Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

16" Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No.3749

Introduced by Honorable Sergio A. F. Apostol

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Social Media as a new medium of communication is one of the the newest trends in
Information Technology. People can instantly connect and have correspondence with one
another by just the use of their cellphones, laptops or tablets through these social media
sites. However, for every benefit social media may bring lies the danger of some who take
social medial as a means to take advantage of another. Cyber bullying and other forms of
harassment through the use of social media may cause mental and psychological anguish

to their innocent victims.

This Act seeks to regulate these social media mediums, and by mandating the
proper government agencies to prosecute crimes committed through the use thereof. With
this, ample protection will be given to law-abiding social media users and prevent them

from falling prey to crimes committed through the use of the technology.

SERGI! . F. APOSTOL
Représentative
Second District, Leyte


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

16" Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3'249

Introduced by Honorable Sergio A. F. Apostol

“SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATION ACT OF 2014”

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. State Policy. - It is the policy of the State to regulate the
transfer and promote the adaptation of technology from all sources for the
national benefit.

SECTION 2. Social Media defined. Cyber bullying- For purposes of this
Act, Social media is defined as any “electronic medium that allows
interaction among people in which they create, share or exchange
information and ideas, including, but not limited to, uploading or
downloading videos, still photographs, blogs, video blogs, podcasts, instant
messages, electronic mail or Intemet website profiles or locations." The
definition includes such social media venues as Facebook, Twitter and
Linkedin, as well as sites like Pinterest and Instagram. E-mail accounts
created through Yahoo!, Google, and other Internet sites shall be included in
the definition.

Cyber bullying- is the use of social media to harm or harass other people in a
deliberate, repeated, and hostile manner.

SECTION 3. Social Media Responsibility. - Every person who will
communicate, exchange, deliver, blog or share information through the
social media must observe a responsible and fair exercise of his right to free
expression and opinion. He must give everyone his due, observe good faith
and avoid any form of harrasment that my bring harm or shame to the name
or reputation of another, without any valid or legal justification, in a public
forum through the use of social media.

SECTION 4. Acts punished. - Any person who intentionally and maliciously
commits any act of cyber bullying through the use of a social media as


defined under herein shall be punished with an imprisonment of not less
than six (6) years and one (1) day years up to twelve (12) years and/or a
fine ranging from thirty thousand pesos (P30,000) to fifty thousand pesos (
P50,000), upon the discretion of the Court.

Any person who will commit an act of a malicious and public imputation as.
defined and penalized under Articles 353-355 of the Revised Penal Code,
as amended, committed through the use of a social media as defined under
this Act, shall be punished with a penalty of prision correccional in its
minimum and medium periods and/or a fine ranging from thirty thousand
pesos (P30,000.00) to fifty thousand pesos (P50,000 pesos), upon the
discretion of the Court.

All prosecutions of the crimes as aforementioned shall be under the direct
control and authority of the Department of Justice.

SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of other
provisions thereof.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orderes and issuances
or portions thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of the Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
following its publication in the Offical Gazette, and in at least two (2) national
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,