Meta removes 20 influencer pages linked to illegal online gambling in the Philippines
The move followed a request from the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center.
The Philippines.- Following a request filed by Digital Pinoys and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), Meta has begun removing the Facebook pages of influencers found to be promoting illegal online gambling. It has pulled the pages of at least 20 social media influencers, including those of Sachzna Laparan (9.7 million followers), Boy Tapang (5.5 million), actor Mark Anthony Fernandez (242,000), and Kuya Lex TV (100,000).
Philstar quotes Digital Pinoys national campaigner Ronald Gustilo: “We thank Meta for swiftly acting on our joint request with CICC to take down the pages of influencers blatantly promoting illegal online gambling. We hope the remaining pages flagged in our initial report will be removed in the coming days,” he said and added that some influencers who had been warned to take down their online gambling promotions by July 11 dismissed the CICC’s order.
This move represents the initial phase of a broader campaign by CICC and Digital Pinoys to curb illegal online gambling promotions, with more pages expected to be removed in the future.
