Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH (19™) CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 129°

Introduced by: Hon, ARNOLFO “Arnie” A. TEVES, JR.

AN ACT MANDATING THE AUTHENTICATION OF ONLINE AND SOCIAL
MEDIA MEMBERSHIPS IN THE COUNTRY THROUGH REGISTRATION OF
THEIR ACCOUNTS USING ANY VALID GOVERNMENT-ISSUED
IDENTIFICATION AND/OR BARANGAY CERTIFICATE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to require a mandatory authentication process for all social fRedia and
other similar online accounts enjoyed by users in the country. It aims to address
cyber bullying, harassment, online scam, libel and even illicit drug trade and
prostitution by holding individuals, private and public entities accountable for their
online interactions. To verify identities, online social networking services will be
obliged to require their users, whether resident or non resident, to supply and link
their accounts to the valid identification numbers provided by the government.

Social media platforms are indispensible tools for disseminating information
especially those that concern corruption, mismanagement and the poor quality of
service in different levels of government. They have made it tremendously easy to
collect information pertinent to the public interest from individuals. They have also
brought together people from all walks of life and helped them bring into fruition
projects that benefit communities.

While the country has greatly benefitted from this bridging of both public and
private spheres, like any other tool, the social media has been used as a mode to
bully and harass individuals and institutions. In 2013, a Google Trends report
revealed the Philippine was the fourth highest country in terms of cyberbullying


searches. In a 2015 survey by the Stairway Foundation, Inc., 60 percent of Filipino
children aged 7 to 12 and 80 percent of teenagers and 13 to 16 revealed themselves
victims of bullying through social media. Furthermore, 30 percent of children aged 7
to 12 and 40 percent of teenagers aged 13 to 16 knew of others being cyberbullied.
Sixty percent of children said they could confide to their parents while only 34
percent of teenagers said they could.

The Cyber Crime Act has not curbed cyberbullying and harassment because it is in
spirit libel law extended to the realm of the Internet. The Cyber Crime Act does not
address the issues of traceability and accountability that should be inherent in social
media accounts from the point of registration. Hence, it is imperative that the
government take measures to enhance accountability for online interactions and take
steps to document wrongdoing in the near future. By doing so, Filipinos specifically
the youth will enjoy more secure social networking platforms as well as productive
and informative interactions.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Q-

ARNOLFO “Arnie” A. TEVES, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH (19™) CONGRESS
First Regular Session

129

House Bill No.

Introduced by: Hon. ARNOLFO “Arnie” A. TEVES, JR.

AN ACT MANDATING THE AUTHENTICATION OF ONLINE AND SOCIAL
MEDIA MEMBERSHIPS IN THE COUNTRY THROUGH REGISTRATION OF
THEIR ACCOUNTS USING ANY VALID GOVERNMENT-ISSUED
IDENTIFICATION AND/OR BARANGAY CERTIFICATE

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. This act shall be known as “The Online and Social Media
Membership Accountability Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. The purpose of this Act is to facilitate secure and
accountable interactions, particularly online interactions, between individuals,
public institutions and private entities.

To that end, this Act ensures that individuals and participating entities can achieve a
high degree of confidence in an individual's identity by mandating social media
networks and other similar websites to require the authentication of their member's
identities upon registration with the use of their valid identity card or barangay
certificate numbers provided by the government.

SECTION 3. Electronic Identification Requirement. All persons shall be required to
possess any valid identification cards issued by the government and/or barangay
certificates issued by barangay authorities.

People intending to register in social media networks and websites may then use
their identification card or barangay certificate numbers to verify their online
identity.


For public and private entities, they may use the identity card or barangay certificate
number of a designated employed representative of the company.

To facilitate the verification process, social media networks and other online
websites shall mandate online users availing of their services to input their identity
card or barangay certificate number as a requirement of the membership registration
process.

Online users may be allowed to register multiple accounts under the same identity
card or barangay certificate number.

SECTION 4. Penalty Cause. If a person files a lawsuit against any social media
account, and the social media provider fails to identify and authenticate the account
owner, the social media provider shall be held equally liable of the penalties
imposed herein: (a) P. in fines or ___days of community service, or both, for
creating and using a social media account that is not linked to valid identification
card of barangay certificate number provided by the government to each individual;
() P. in fines or __ days in prison, or both for creating and using a social
media account for the purpose of performing acts of bullying; acts of defamation;
libelous and malicious acts; and trade of illegal drugs, weapons and firearms,
whether or not such account is linked to a valid identification card or barangay
certificate number provided by the government to each individual.

SECTION 5. Separability Clause, If any provision, section or part of this act shall be
declared unconstitutional or valid, such judgment shall not affect, invalidate or
impair any other provisions, sections or parts hereof.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Effectivity. This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general

circulation whichever comes first.

Approved,...