Meta Removes Pages of Filipino Influencers for Promoting Gambling
The company “Meta” has removed 20 Facebook pages of Filipino influencers who were promoting illegal online casinos, following a request from the group “Digital Pinoys” and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center (CICC).
Reason for the Block
According to Digital Pinoys and CICC, the blocked pages were actively promoting offshore gambling platforms, violating Philippine laws.
Influencers were given a demand to remove the ads by July 11, but some of them refused to comply. Some of the deleted pages were very popular:
- Sachzna Laparan — 9.7 million followers
- Boy Tapang — 5.5 million followers
- Mark Anthony Fernandez — 242,000 followers
- Kuya Lex TV — 100,000 followers
All of these were removed at Meta’s initiative, which responded quickly to the complaints.
Statements from Digital Pinoys and CICC
The national coordinator of “Digital Pinoys,” Ronald Gustilo, expressed gratitude to Meta for its swift actions. He emphasized that the influencers had ample time to comply with the demands:
“They thought they were untouchable. They had enough time to comply, but they chose to play with the law.”
Gustilo added that this was just the beginning of a large-scale campaign. He praised the decisive actions of the authorities and highly commended the work of CICC under the leadership of Assistant Secretary Aboy Paraiso:
“This is exactly the CICC we need — decisive, efficient, and fearless.”
What Measures are Being Taken Next?
According to CICC representatives, other pages mentioned in the initial report may also be blocked soon. Additionally, the possibility of filing criminal charges against influencers who continue to promote banned platforms is being considered.
CICC’s Action Plan
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Monitoring | Tracking pages with potential violations |
| 2. Warning | Official demand to remove illegal ads |
| 3. Blocking | Removal of pages in agreement with Meta |
| 4. Possible Prosecution | Initiating criminal charges for repeated violations |
Which Pages Are Under Review?
A total of 20 pages were submitted for review. The first four have already been removed. The remaining influencers are at risk and must immediately stop promoting offshore operators.
Potential Consequences
- Loss of Audience Access — Millions of followers could be lost permanently.
- Legal Risks — Potential charges under cybercrime laws.
- Financial Losses — Termination of advertising contracts with online casinos.
Conclusion
Meta and CICC’s actions demonstrate that large influencers cannot expect immunity. Even if you have millions of followers, the law applies equally to everyone.
Meta, in collaboration with government authorities, shows that the platform is not a safe zone for promoting illegal services.
Any advertisement must comply with the laws of the country, or the consequences will be inevitable.