DICT backtracks on statement that House called for Zuckerberg

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Monday backtracked on its earlier official statement that the House of Representatives had called on Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to appear before lawmakers, clarifying that no House resolution directing or inviting him to attend the hearing was issued.

The clarification came after the DICT statement was picked up by national news organizations, with reports saying the House wanted Zuckerberg to appear over concerns involving social media safety, harmful content and the protection of children online.

A source from the House told TechWatchPH.com that the House leadership was not happy with DICT’s earlier official statement, which carried the headline: “BREAKING NEWS: HOUSE CALLS ON META CEO MARK ZUCKERBERG TO FACE DICT IN HOUSE HEARING ON SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY.”

The post containing the statement has since been removed from DICT’s Facebook page.

On September 21, DICT issued a new statement titled “DICT Issues Clarification on Reports Arising from the House Budget Hearing.”

“The DICT confirms that no House resolution was issued directing or inviting Meta or its Chief Executive Officer, Mark Zuckerberg, to appear before the House in relation to the hearing,” the department said.

FPJ Panday Bayanihan Rep. Brian Poe-Llamanzares, who sponsored the DICT budget during the plenary deliberations, also clarified on September 20 that the House “did not summon Mark Zuckerberg.” He said it was DICT, not the House, that had sought executive-level engagement with Meta through letters addressed to Zuckerberg earlier this year.

DICT also clarified that deliberations on its proposed 2027 budget were deferred pending the submission of additional information and documents requested by House members.

Lawmakers had raised concerns over harmful online content, child safety and the accountability of social media platforms during the deliberations. Reports on the hearing said the House deferred consideration of the DICT budget while seeking clearer responses from the department on these issues.

DICT said it is now consolidating the information and documents requested by lawmakers and will present them when the budget hearing resumes.

The department added that it would continue working with Congress, government agencies, technology platforms and other stakeholders to advance online safety, strengthen platform accountability and enhance cybersecurity.