Philippines: Meta takes down Facebook pages of influencers linked to illegal gambling
Content creators warned over promotion of unlicensed platforms.
Key points:
– Meta removes 20 influencer pages linked to illegal online gambling
– Cybercrime authorities warn more takedowns may follow
– PAGCOR orders ad removals from public transport
As reported by The Philippine Star, social media giant Meta has begun purging Facebook pages of influencers found promoting illegal online gambling, following a request filed jointly by Digital Pinoys and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC).
The initial crackdown saw 20 pages removed, including those belonging to high-profile personalities with large followings such as Boy Tapang (5.5 million), Sachzna Laparan (9.7 million), Kuya Lex TV (100,000) and Mark Anthony Fernandez (242,000). The group stressed that these pages were part of the first batch submitted to Meta for review.
Ronald Gustilo, national campaigner of Digital Pinoys, said Meta’s swift action reflects its commitment to curbing the spread of unregulated gambling content. He added that several influencers had ignored warnings issued by the CICC earlier this month, wrongly assuming the threat of enforcement was hollow.
Good to know: The CICC has begun issuing show cause orders to non-compliant influencers, asking them to justify why they should not face criminal charges
Meanwhile, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has instructed operators to remove gambling advertisements from buses, jeepneys, taxis and trains by 15 August. The directive is part of broader efforts to clean up unregulated promotion amid rising concerns about gambling addiction and illegal platforms.
While several lawmakers are pushing for an outright ban on online gambling, PAGCOR and some licensed operators have called for tighter controls instead of a full prohibition.
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