MANILA — The House Committee on Appropriations approved on Wednesday a substitute bill for children’s digital safety, subject to amendments.
This includes a minimum age requirement of 13 years old to be able to use social media platforms, based on an initial copy of the measure yet to reflect amendments made during the panel’s meeting on Wednesday.
Those older than 13 but are younger than 18 years old will not be allowed to access certain features, according to the copy of the measure.
This includes livestreaming, endless scrolling, short-form video feeds or “shorts,” unnecessary collection or sharing of personal information, purchases, and gambling-like mechanisms.
And digital platforms are required to deactivate accounts of those below 18 years old but are older than 13 should parents withdraw consent.
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If the measure is passed into law, an Office for Children’s Social Media and Digital Safety will be created.
Rep. Albert Garcia, the panel's senior vice chairperson, said it was a "very significant measure."
"As we know, compromised ‘yung safety ng ating mga kabataan ngayon because of the online platforms. So gustong mag-create ng office ‘yung mga authors and sponsors of this measure nang sa ganoon to address this growing concern ng mga platforms at ng social media sa ating mga kabataan nang sa ganoon, hopefully it will prevent further problems moving forward,” Garcia told the media.
Platforms must maintain an “accessible local presence” in the Philippines under the copy of the bill, which would mean establishing a domestic corporation or registering as a foreign corporation with a duly authorized local representative.
Penalties for each violation of child-safety obligations range from P2 million to P20 million.