MANILA PHILIPPINES – House Committee on National Defense and Security and Manila First District Representative Ernix Dionisio believes that the total ban of Tiktok apps and other foreign adversary controlled applications in the country should go through study.
Dionisio said it is not enough to ban apps like TikTok, especially if there is no clear basis that it is connected to China.
“kailangan pag-aralan natin katulad ng ginagawa dun sa amerika, malaman natin kung may grounds ba para i-ban natin (tiktok),” Dionisio said.
This came after Manila 6th District Representative Benny Abante filed a House Bill no. 10489 to ban the said apps.
According to Abante, he considered tiktok a possible threat to our national security and territorial integrity, which is allegedly linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Due to the ongoing tension between the Philippines and China, the veteran lawmaker said the
government should protect the public against manipulation and misinformation campaigns on social media.
READ: TIKTOK APP, GUSTONG I-BAN SA PILIPINAS NG ILANG MAMBABATAS
As for Manila 5th District Representative Irwin Tieng, he will only be in favor of banning the app when it is proven that there is a threat to our national security.
“hindi ko alam, kung magiging against ako.. kasi mga negosyo to e.. hindi naman natin pwedeng biglang isasara nalang natin… as far as i know marami rin tayong mga influencers na kumikita sa ganitong mga apps,” ‘if there is really a threat sa national security naten ofcourse i will support,” said Tieng in a forum in Manila.
On the side of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) although there is no law regarding the banning of Tiktok the agency wants to regulate the use of all online sites and messaging apps in the country.
Tiktok apps currently have 49.9 million active users in the Philippines.