Rise of ‘Filipino trolls’ spurs push for legal fix amid Chinese influence concerns

A proposal to update a nearly 50-year-old law requiring individuals to disclose their political activities in the interest of national security has gained steam amid allegations of the rise of “Filipino trolls” espousing pro-Beijing content.Antonio Carpio, a retired Philippine Supreme Court senior associate justice, proposed that the country update its Foreign Agents Act, a 1979 law that requires individuals to register and disclose their political activities to regulate foreign agents.Carpio’s call comes amid claims that state-funded, so-called internet trolls have surfaced to downplay the territorial row with Beijing in the China-sea" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="8346" data-entity-type="location">South China Sea and discredit Philippine officials critical of Chinese activities.He argued on a local radio show that the legal amendments were needed to counter such individuals who would otherwise abuse freedom of expression in the country, “so that everyone in the Philippines knows you’re paid to speak for China”.Under the current law, individuals who fail to register may face up to five years in prison, penalties of up to 10,000 pesos (US$170), or both.The retired justice said registration served transparency purposes and heavier penalties would deter individuals from espousing such narratives, which could be instrumental in shaping public opinion on the China-sea" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="8346" data-entity-type="location">South China Sea dispute.