Regulatory body for social media, gaming platforms pushed

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police–Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP–ACG) recommended the creation of a regulatory body for social media and gaming platforms.

“It was one of our proposals at the top level [of government] to have this review and censorship board for all social media platforms and gaming platforms,” PNP-ACG director Maj. Gen. Wilson Asueta said at the Kapihan sa Manila Prince Hotel forum on Wednesday.

“[A board] that will really censure, monitor and tell, ‘You need to stop. This is prohibited. This is violent content,’” he added.

READ: PH urged to push for united Asean front to make Big Tech accountable

Asueta made this pronouncement in response to a question on whether Congress should pass a law or whether Malacañang can issue an executive order creating a body like the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) for social media platforms.

The MTRCB was formed by Presidential Decree No. 1986 issued by then-President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. in 1985. 

“An amendment is very commendable,” Asueta said.

“And, for the meantime, an executive order, pwede i-ano ng ating SILG (Secretary of the Interior and Local Government) kasi immediate yun kaysa paggawa ng batas. But, [we’ve] proposed [a board] already in terms of legislation,” he added.

(And, for the meantime, an executive order, our SILG can push for that because that’s more immediate than passing a law. But, we’ve proposed a board already in terms of legislation.)

Regulations on social media and gaming platforms regained public interest following the fatal school shooting incidents in Tacloban City last June 22 and Zamboanga City last August 18.

Both incidents were allegedly perpetrated by teenaged students who had supposedly been exposed to violent content on social media and gaming platforms.

The PNP previously said it was studying a recommendation discussed during the Association of Southeast Asian Nation Chiefs of Police (Aseanapol) last July to adopt a measure similar to Australia’s ban on social media for users aged 16 and younger. /gsg