Defensor: Groups working for BBM behind fake complaints vs spox FB account

CONGRESSMAN Mike Defensor of Anakalusugan is convinced that rivals of presidential frontrunner Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. caused the suspension of the Facebook (FB) account of his spokesperson, lawyer Vic Rodriguez.

Defensor said he believes that “groups working for Marcos’ opponents instigated a barrage of bogus complaints against Rodriguez’s FB account, which was suspended because of the arbitrariness of the social media platform’s content moderators.”

Defensor said he himself was a victim of “false complaints” that prompted the suspension of his FB account last year.

Defensor is running for Quezon City mayor, and is an ally of Marcos Jr.

“FB’s admission that Rodriguez’s account was flagged by mistake has also betrayed the vulnerability of the social media platform’s moderators many of whom are Filipinos to undue influence by partisan political activities,” Defensor said.

“Considering that FB’s moderators are not even employees of the social media giant but work for outsourcing companies contracted to perform the job they may be susceptible to political manipulation one way or the other,” Defensor pointed out.

FB’s moderators review posts on the platform, and negative feedback can result in account suspension.

In a statement on Tuesday, an FB spokesperson said Rodriguez’s account had been “incorrectly flagged as an imposter account.”

“The Rodriguez account was restricted for reasons unrelated to any posted content. The account has since been restored,” the spokesperson said.

FB urged to exercise restraint in suspending accounts amid political heat

Amid the political heat heading into the May 9 elections, Defensor urged FB “to exercise greater restraint” in disabling the accounts of individuals actively involved in the political campaign activities of candidates.

“Otherwise, a foreign entity like FB may be accused of meddling in our elections  a sovereign exercise  in favor of this or that candidate,” Defensor warned.

Defensor also said that FB could be accused “of suppressing free speech, and of imposing its own political values on others.”