NOT ABSOLUTE
“YOUR right ends where my freedom begins.”
This was the emphatic statement of House Assistant Majority Leader and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, as he called for urgent action to counter the growing misuse of social media by online personalities who hide behind “freedom of speech” while spreading lies, hate and harmful content without consequences.
Acidre’s remarks came in the wake of a House Tri-Comm hearing on the unchecked proliferation of disinformation and harmful online behavior, as he raised the alarm over what he described as the “dangerous distortion” of free speech by some influencers and content creators.
“It’s both upsetting and honestly quite alarming that some influencers and online personalities today feel like they can say whatever they want—no matter how offensive, harmful, or untrue—without facing any consequences,” Acidre, chair of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, said.
“They act as if they’re above basic decency, beyond civility, and free from the responsibilities that come with having a public voice,” he added.
He pointed out that while freedom of expression is a constitutional right, it is not an unlimited one.
“You can’t just exercise your right to free speech at the expense of someone else’s freedom to live with dignity, truth, and peace. As the saying goes, your right ends where my freedom begins,” Acidre stressed.
He also questioned why society holds traditional media to ethical standards while allowing digital content creators to operate with impunity.
“We don’t allow TV, radio, or newspapers to publish or air irresponsible and harmful content. So why are we tolerating the same kind of speech on social media, where it spreads even faster and reaches even more people?” he asked.
Acidre said the heart of the issue lies in how social media platforms are now being misused—not to connect, inform, or uplift, but to divide, attack and mislead.
“Social media was meant to connect us, to help us share stories, ideas, and important information. But right now, it’s becoming something else—something dangerous—because of the way it’s being used by some people,” he warned.
During the Tri-Comm hearing, lawmakers and stakeholders noted that many social media users, particularly those with large audiences, have adopted a mindset that equates freedom of speech with impunity.
Acidre stressed that this flawed interpretation must be corrected as soon as possible.
“One of the biggest reasons for the spread of fake news and harmful content on social media is this mistaken belief that ‘freedom of speech’ means ‘you can say whatever you want, no matter what.’
That’s just not true,” he said.
“And if we don’t correct that, we’ll keep seeing lies and hate spread like wildfire online,” he cautioned.
Acidre urged the establishment of clear and fair rules to reinforce responsible digital behavior, not to silence anyone but to ensure that online speech does not trample on the rights and dignity of others.
“We don’t need laws that take away our freedom. We need guidelines that protect our dignity, our truth, and our safety. We need to find a balance where people can speak their minds, but not at the cost of others’ well-being,” he said.
The party-list lawmaker also called on social media platforms to stop selectively enforcing their community standards.
“If you spread harmful content, you should answer for it. And the social media platforms? They can’t keep turning a blind eye,” Acidre said.
