Senator Ping Lacson files bill aiming to regulate social media use.
To regulate the use of different social media among minors, Senator Ping Lacson filed a bill banning them from using these online platforms.
Anything that is good when used excessively becomes bad. Recently, Senator Ping Lacson filed a bill to regulate social media usage among minors, and it is called “An Act Regulating the Use of Social Media Platforms by Minors, Imposing Age Restrictions, Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof, and for Other Purposes.”
This bill prohibits those who are under 18 years old from using social media platforms. This bill is in reference to the United Nations Children’s Fund, or UNICEF, study that warns of the vulnerability of children to cyberbullying, online harassment, and body image pressure. This measure also inspired similar policies as it has been in other countries, such as Australia. This should also be done in the Philippines.
“Taking inspiration from this model, and in adherence to our State’s declared policy of promoting and protecting the mental and emotional well-being of its children, this bill is being proposed to protect Filipino children below 18 years old from online risks and harmful content,” Lacson said.
In the bill he proposed, social media platforms would require identity verification through ID and facial recognition. The online platforms would be expected to conduct regular audits of user accounts and remove underage users.
Violations carry heavy fines, such as:
- Platforms could be fined between Php 1 million and Php 20 million.
- Internet service providers (ISPs) face administrative fines ranging from Php 300,000 to Php 3 million for failing to enforce government-ordered blocks.
- Third-party age verification providers who violate data privacy laws may be fined Php 500,000 to Php 5 million and permanently banned from operating in the Philippines.
The bill would still be consistent with the Data Privacy Act and other relevant laws.
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