Senator Robin Padilla is facing a wave of criticism after sharing a viral "copy-paste" hoax on social media that falsely claimed users could opt out of Meta’s data-sharing policies by posting a legalistic disclaimer.
The initial post shared by Padilla is a long-standing internet chain message asserting that the user does not give permission for Facebook or Meta to use their personal data, photographs, or information. The post encouraged others to copy and share the text to protect their privacy.
However, according to Meta’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, posting such a statement has no legal effect. Meta clarifies that while it uses data to provide "personalized experiences" and targeted advertising, it does not sell personal information to third parties. By using the platform, users agree to its terms, which cannot be overridden by a status update.
Following the backlash, Padilla deleted the post and replaced it with a new statement: “I HEREBY DECLARE THAT I DO NOT GIVE MY PERMISSION FOR FACEBOOK OR META TO USE ANY OF MY PERSONAL DATA. - mag trending Ka sa panlalait kapag pinakalat ito.”
Padilla also restricted the comments section on his page, but the move did little to quiet the online discussion.
Netizens quickly characterized the follow-up as "damage control," with one commenter noting, "Just because you have a popular name doesn't mean you deserve a seat in the government."
Legal experts also weighed in on the senator's conduct. Atty. Race Del Rosario, a lawyer and registered nurse, criticized Padilla for failing to uphold the standards of his committee chairmanship.
"This is not how you respond when people call you out for sharing fake news," Del Rosario said in a public post. "The issue is not virality. The issue is credibility. You apologize. You clarify the mistake. You correct the misinformation. And you commit to doing better. That’s how simple it is."
Del Rosario emphasized that as the head of the committee overseeing public information, Padilla is expected to lead the fight against disinformation rather than trivializing it.
"Accountability first. Not jokes. Not deflection," Del Rosario added.
Padilla has not yet issued a formal apology or a further clarification regarding the misinformation.
