FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
7 JUI. -4 
k‘4 :I!: 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The advances in technology have brought about many comforts in our everyday 
activities. However, some unscrupulous individuals have misused these technological advances 
to the detriment of their unsuspecting victims. An example of such misuse is photo and video 
voyeurism. 
Photo and video voyeurism is the act of capturing an image of a private area of an 
individual without their consent, and knowingly doing it under circumstances in which the 
individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy. With the proliferation of camera phones, 
webcams, PDAs and a host of other miniature lenses, some individuals have become victims of 
photo and video voyeurs. 
In the US., “cyber peeking” is often focused on fetish photographs taken from cameras 
mounted on shoe tops, labels and hats. In addition, US. law enforcement authorities report a 
steady increase of hidden cameras in bedrooms, bathrooms, public showers, locker rooms and 
tanning salons. From there, millions of photographs and video hit the Internet. While the 
situation is not that bad in the Philippines, there are several instances when individuals, mostly 
women, become the victims of “high-tech” voyeurism. 
For the victim, it is obviously very embarrassing and degrading to be photographed in a 
compromised position. It is a form of invasion of personal privacy. Since it is the duty of the 
state to guarantee the right of its citizens to privacy, this bill is aimed at fulfilling such duty.’ 
’ This hill was originally filed in the Thirteenth Congress, Third Regular Session 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
’9 JUL -4 P4 :I5 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
PENALIZING PHOTO AND VIDEO VOYEURISM 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representutives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Anti- Video Voyeurism Act 
of 2007.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
protect the privacy and dignity of every person. This Act aims to apply said policy by 
criminalizing photo and video voyeurism. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall 
mean: 
(a) “capture”, with respect to an image, means to videotape, photograph, film, record 
by any means, or broadcast; 
(b) “broadcast” means to electronically transmit a visual image with the intent that it be 
viewed by a person or persons; 
(c) “a private area of the individual” means the naked or undergarment clad genitals, 
pubic area, buttocks, or female breast of that individual; 
(d) “female breast” means any portion of the female breast below the top of the areola; 
and 
(e) “under circumstances in which that individual has a reasonable expectation of 
privacy” means-- circumstances in which a reasonable person would believe that he or she could 
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disrobe in privacy, without being concerned that an image of a private area of the individual was 
being captured; or circumstances in which a reasonable person would believe that a private area 
of the individual would not be visible to the public, regardless of whether that person is in a 
public or private place. 
SECTION 4. Photo or Video Voyeurism Offense. - Whoever captures an image of a 
private area of an individual without their consent, and lmowingly does so under circumstances 
in which the individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy, shall be punished by 
imprisonment of not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years or a fine or not less than 
ten thousand pesos (P10,OOO) nor more that fifty thousand pesos (PS0,OOO) or both at the 
discretion of the Court. 
SECTION 5. Exemption. - This Act does not prohibit any lawful law enforcement, 
correctional, or intelligence activity. 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
with, the provisions oE this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - 
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days a
h
 
its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
jps/S-4-07 
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