Duterte threatens to block Facebook

President Duterte has been considering banning facebook from operating in the Philippines. This was a direct reaction to facebook shutting down numerous pro-government accounts due to “coordinated inauthentic behaviour” in September. Many of the accounts in question can be traced back to government officials and members of the army. In October, the government asked for meetings with the Social Media company. Facebook remains online in the Philippines. Bearing in mind that Duterte’s government has a long-proven history of using the power of social media to spread disinformation and even threats to human rights activists and members of the opposition it feels somehow strange hearing him complain about restrictions to freedom of expression. Throughout his election campaign Duterte has profited substantially from facebook.