THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Meta Platforms, Inc. has agreed to help the Philippines monitor online marketplaces.
“It is a key challenge for us to effectively remove entities that are marketing violative products online,” Trade Assistant Secretary Agaton Teodoro Uvero said in a statement.
According to the DTI, the meeting with Meta, which owns Facebook, centers on the onboarding of Consumer Policy Channel (CPC) which will allow regulators such as the DTI to track transactions on Facebook.
“The CPC implements a multi-layered enforcement system that integrates user reports, artificial intelligence, and human reviews,” it said.
It will also help forward identified violations for Meta’s immediate review and takedown, it added.
Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau Director Regino D. Mallari, Jr. said that the collaboration with Meta opens up opportunities for future partnerships.
“Our goal is to engage more digital platforms not just for consumer protection, but also to enhance the integrity of e-commerce and drive sustainable economic growth,” Mr. Mallari said.
The DTI has tapped e-commerce platforms TikTok, Shopee, and Lazada to help with enforcement regarding flagged online sales.
In July, the DTI temporarily banned the sale of vape products on all e-commerce platforms to prevent its sale to minors.
According to Department Administrative Order No. 24-03, the sale of vape products on e-commerce platforms will only be allowed once the seller is able to prove it has instituted “adequate measures” to ensure that its platform and merchants are in full compliance with the proof-of-age verification and other legal requirements.
“Moving toward a more comprehensive, consumer-centered approach, the DTI also looks to incorporate open and continuous information exchange with valuable stakeholders,” it said. — Justine Irish D. Tabile