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Philippine Nobel winner Ressa calls Facebook 'biased against facts'By Karen Lema
© Reuters/ELOISA LOPEZ Filipino journalist Maria Ressa, one of 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winners, poses for a picture
MANILA (Reuters) -Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa used her new prominence to criticise Facebook as a threat to democracy, saying the social media giant fails to protect against the spread of hate and disinformation and is "biased against facts".
The veteran journalist and head of Philippine news site Rappler told Reuters in an interview after winning the award that Facebook's algorithms "prioritise the spread of lies laced with anger and hate over facts."
Her comments add to the pile of recent pressure on Facebook, used by more than 3 billion people, which a former employee turned whistleblower accused of putting profit over the need to curb hate speech and misinformation. Facebook denies any wrongdoing.
MANILA (Reuters) -Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa used her new prominence to criticise Facebook as a threat to democracy, saying the social media giant fails to protect against the spread of hate and disinformation and is "biased against facts".
The veteran journalist and head of Philippine news site Rappler told Reuters in an interview after winning the award that Facebook's algorithms "prioritise the spread of lies laced with anger and hate over facts."
Her comments add to the pile of recent pressure on Facebook, used by more than 3 billion people, which a former employee turned whistleblower accused of putting profit over the need to curb hate speech and misinformation. Facebook denies any wrongdoing.
© Reuters/ELOISA LOPEZ Filipino journalist Maria Ressa, one of 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winners, poses for a picture
Sought for comment on Ressa's remarks, a Facebook spokesperson said the social media giant continues to invest heavily to remove and reduce the visibility of harmful content.
"We believe in press freedom and support news organisations and journalists around the world as they continue their important work," the spokesperson added.
Ressa
Sought for comment on Ressa's remarks, a Facebook spokesperson said the social media giant continues to invest heavily to remove and reduce the visibility of harmful content.
"We believe in press freedom and support news organisations and journalists around the world as they continue their important work," the spokesperson added.
Ressa
shared the Nobel
with Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-editor-muratov-dedicates-nobel-prize-staff-murdered-their-work-2021-10-08
on Friday, for what the committee called braving the wrath of the leaders of the Philippines and Russia to expose corruption and misrule, in an endorsement of free speech under fire worldwide.
© Reuters/ELOISA LOPEZ Filipino journalist Maria Ressa, one of 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winners
Facebook has become the world's largest distributor of news and "yet it is biased against facts, it is biased against journalism," Ressa said.
"If you have no facts, you can't have truths, you can't' have trust. If you don't have any of these, you don't have a democracy," she said. "Beyond that, if you don't have facts, you don't' have a shared reality, so you can't solve the existential problems of climate, coronavirus."
Ressa has been the target of intense social-media hatred campaigns from President Rodrigo Duterte's supporters, which she said were aimed at destroying her and Rappler's credibility.
ELECTION 'A BATTLE FOR FACTS'
"These online attacks on social media have a purpose, they are targeted, they are used like a weapon," said the former CNN journalist.
Rappler's reporting has included close scrutiny of Duterte's deadly war on drugs https://www.reuters.com/investigates/section/philippines-drugs
Facebook has become the world's largest distributor of news and "yet it is biased against facts, it is biased against journalism," Ressa said.
"If you have no facts, you can't have truths, you can't' have trust. If you don't have any of these, you don't have a democracy," she said. "Beyond that, if you don't have facts, you don't' have a shared reality, so you can't solve the existential problems of climate, coronavirus."
Ressa has been the target of intense social-media hatred campaigns from President Rodrigo Duterte's supporters, which she said were aimed at destroying her and Rappler's credibility.
ELECTION 'A BATTLE FOR FACTS'
"These online attacks on social media have a purpose, they are targeted, they are used like a weapon," said the former CNN journalist.
Rappler's reporting has included close scrutiny of Duterte's deadly war on drugs https://www.reuters.com/investigates/section/philippines-drugs
and a series of investigative reports into what it says is his government's strategy to "weaponise" the internet, using bloggers on its payroll to stir up anger among online supporters who threaten and discredit Duterte's critics.
Duterte has not commented on Ressa's award. The presidential palace, Duterte's spokesperson, his chief legal counsel, and communications office did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.
Duterte has not commented on Ressa's award. The presidential palace, Duterte's spokesperson, his chief legal counsel, and communications office did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.
© Reuters/ELOISA LOPEZ Filipino journalist Maria Ressa, one of 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winners
Facebook in March 2019 removed an online network in the Philippines for "coordinated inauthentic behaviour ", and linked it to a businessman who has previously said he helped manage the president's social media election campaign in 2016.
Facebook in March 2019 removed an online network in the Philippines for "coordinated inauthentic behaviour ", and linked it to a businessman who has previously said he helped manage the president's social media election campaign in 2016.
Filipinos top the world in time spent on social media, according to 2021 studies by social media management firms.
Platforms like Facebook have become political battlegrounds and have helped strengthen Duterte's support base, having been instrumental in his election victory in 2016 and a rout by his allies in mid-term polls last year.
The Philippines will hold an election in May to choose a successor to Duterte
The Philippines will hold an election in May to choose a successor to Duterte
who under the constitution is not allowed to seek another term.
That campaign "will be a battle for facts," Ressa said. "We are going to keep making sure our public sees the facts, understands it. We are not going to be harassed or intimidated into silence."
(Reporting by Karen Lema; Additional Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; editing by William Mallard and Jason Neely)
Philippine journalist's Nobel called 'rebuke' to Duterte, who remains silent
Maria Ressa, an executive of online news platform Rappler,
Duterte has described Rappler news site that Ressa co-founded as a "fake news https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-media-idUSKBN1F50HL outlet"
Several well-wishers said the Nobel highlights the importance of the media, truth and democracy ahead of Duterte ending his six-year term in June.
Ressa's prize highlights the importance of protecting freedom of the press "as our vanguard against abuse of power, and an essential element of democracy," the Management Association of the Philippines, one of the premiere business groups, said in a statement.
(Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by William Mallard)
Maria Ressa, an executive of online news platform Rappler,
poses at Rappler's office in Pasig City, Metro Manila
Neil Jerome Morales
Sat, October 9, 2021
MANILA (Reuters) - The Nobel Peace Prize for Philippine journalist Maria Ressa was hailed by many at home on Saturday as a rebuke on official attacks on the media, but there was no comment from President Rodrigo Duterte, a frequent critic of Ressa's news site.
Ressa
Neil Jerome Morales
Sat, October 9, 2021
MANILA (Reuters) - The Nobel Peace Prize for Philippine journalist Maria Ressa was hailed by many at home on Saturday as a rebuke on official attacks on the media, but there was no comment from President Rodrigo Duterte, a frequent critic of Ressa's news site.
Ressa
, who is free on bail as she appeals a six-year prison sentence last year for a libel conviction and has faced a slew of other court cases, shared the prize
with Russian investigative journalist Dmitry Muratov https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-editor-muratov-dedicates-nobel-prize-staff-murdered-their-work-2021-10-08
Duterte has described Rappler news site that Ressa co-founded as a "fake news https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-media-idUSKBN1F50HL outlet"
and a tool of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.
Rappler, launched in 2012, has challenged Duterte's policies and the accuracy of his statements. Its investigations have included a spate of killings by law enforcement during a war on drugs
Rappler, launched in 2012, has challenged Duterte's policies and the accuracy of his statements. Its investigations have included a spate of killings by law enforcement during a war on drugs
Duterte launched when he took office in June 2016.
Rights group says authorities summarily executed thousands of drugs suspects. The police deny this, saying those killed violently resisted arrest in sting operations.
Lawmakers and media experts said the award highlights the importance of free speech and speaking truth to power ahead of next year's elections to choose Duterte's successor.
Carlos Isagani Zarate, an opposition lawmaker, said the government is in an awkward position.
"The deafening silence from the palace speaks volumes on how they treated Maria Ressa in the past and how they were taken aback by this recognition," Zarate told Reuters. "This is a personal rebuke on Duterte who was insulting critics, especially women."
Ressa is the first Filipino to individually win a Nobel - 13 Filipinos were in organisations that received the prizes in 2017, 2013 and 2007.
PALACE DILEMMA
"For the palace, the dilemma is how to congratulate someone who is a victim of persecution by the government," Danilo Arao, a journalism professor at the University of the Philippines, told Reuters.
Duterte's government denies persecuting critics in the media.
The presidential palace, Duterte's spokesperson, his chief legal counsel, and communications office did not respond to Reuters requests for comment on Ressa's award or on critics' reactions.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra welcomed Ressa's win but said libel laws would be upheld.
"As an ordinary Filipino, I am happy that a fellow Filipino has been included in this year’s roster of Nobel Peace laureates," Guevarra said in a statement.
He said freedom of expression is constitutionally guaranteed in the Philippines but there are legal limits, including libel and defamation.
"Prosecutorial discretion will always be guided by these legal principles and the facts obtaining in any given case, regardless of the persons involved," Guevarra said.
In 2018, Duterte banned Rappler
Rights group says authorities summarily executed thousands of drugs suspects. The police deny this, saying those killed violently resisted arrest in sting operations.
Lawmakers and media experts said the award highlights the importance of free speech and speaking truth to power ahead of next year's elections to choose Duterte's successor.
Carlos Isagani Zarate, an opposition lawmaker, said the government is in an awkward position.
"The deafening silence from the palace speaks volumes on how they treated Maria Ressa in the past and how they were taken aback by this recognition," Zarate told Reuters. "This is a personal rebuke on Duterte who was insulting critics, especially women."
Ressa is the first Filipino to individually win a Nobel - 13 Filipinos were in organisations that received the prizes in 2017, 2013 and 2007.
PALACE DILEMMA
"For the palace, the dilemma is how to congratulate someone who is a victim of persecution by the government," Danilo Arao, a journalism professor at the University of the Philippines, told Reuters.
Duterte's government denies persecuting critics in the media.
The presidential palace, Duterte's spokesperson, his chief legal counsel, and communications office did not respond to Reuters requests for comment on Ressa's award or on critics' reactions.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra welcomed Ressa's win but said libel laws would be upheld.
"As an ordinary Filipino, I am happy that a fellow Filipino has been included in this year’s roster of Nobel Peace laureates," Guevarra said in a statement.
He said freedom of expression is constitutionally guaranteed in the Philippines but there are legal limits, including libel and defamation.
"Prosecutorial discretion will always be guided by these legal principles and the facts obtaining in any given case, regardless of the persons involved," Guevarra said.
In 2018, Duterte banned Rappler
from covering his official events, prompting the news site to cover event speeches and activities via live television and social media.
Several well-wishers said the Nobel highlights the importance of the media, truth and democracy ahead of Duterte ending his six-year term in June.
Ressa's prize highlights the importance of protecting freedom of the press "as our vanguard against abuse of power, and an essential element of democracy," the Management Association of the Philippines, one of the premiere business groups, said in a statement.
(Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by William Mallard)
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