Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House BillNo.__543.

Introduced by Hon. Danilo Ramon S. Fernandez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The increasing use of social media platforms, such as but not limited to Facebook,
‘Twitter, Instagram and the likes, nowadays have reached massive heights. One of its
notable signs is the fact that in every household almost all of its inhabitants,
especially children in their early stages of development, know how to access and use
the social media.

With the advent and creation of social media, children and adolescents’ every move
is monitored online, and even the youngest are bombarded with advertising when
they go online to do their homework, talk with friends, and play

This demonstrates that in the digital age of the internet, social media corporations
create a global footprint that easily influences our modem conceptions of choice,
leisure and reality. Children and teens are at the epicenter of a pervasive-driven
digital marketing system that is woven into the very fabric of their lives.

Hence, there is a need to pass a legislation that puts children’s well-being on the top
priority. If anything, children deserve a strong and effective protections online.

This legislation not only strengthens privacy and security specifically for children and
minors but also champions consumer protection.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earriestly recor

DANILO RAMON S. FERNANDE?
Lone District of Santa Rosa City, Laguna


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

L
House Bill No. 5 43

Introduced by Hon. Danilo Ramon S. Fernandez

AN ACT REGULATING THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, PROVIDING
PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN, MINORS AND CONSUMERS, AND FOR OTHER,
PURPOSES

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

Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title- This Act shall be known as the "Social Media
Regulation and Protection Act of 2019"
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy — it shall be the policy of the State to
supervise and regulate the flow of information on all types of media platforms
with its citizenry. The State recognizes the vita} role of information and
communications technology in nation-building and its inherent obligation to
support and protect the fundamental rights of individuals to privacy and
confidentiality of their personal information and communication while ensuring
free flow of information to promote innovation end growth.
SECTION 3. It is hereby declared that the following shall be compulsory:

(a) Social media companies to provide age restrictions and limitations

on the use of all social media platforms;


(b) Social media companies to provide adequate and efficient

notification mechanisms on declared parents of a child;

(c) Social media companies to strengthen its features restricting users

under 13 years of age;

(d) Prohibiting social media companies from collecting personal and
location information from anyone under 13 years of age without
parental consent, and from anyone between 13 to 17 years old without

the user's consent;

(e) Requiring social media platforms to include “natural stopping
points" for users, which would basically end scrolling after a certain

amount of content;

(f) Requiring social media companies to make it easier for users to

track the amount of time they spend on their platforms;

(g) Automatically limiting the time users can spend on a platform
across all devices to 30 minutes a day. Users would be able change

the limits, but they would have to do so every week.

SECTION 4. Monitoring and Enforcement-To attain the objectives of this Act
and as the agency tasked for consumer protection, the Department of

Information and Communications Technology (DICT) shall:


1. Ensure and protect the rights and welfare of consumers and
business users to privacy, security and confidentiality in matters
relating to Information Communication Technology (ICT) by adopting a
monitoring and reporting system to track violators; impose fines and
penalties for any the violation of this Act;

2. Cause or initiate criminal or administrative prosecution with

concerned government agencies for violations of this Act.

SECTION 5. Department of Health - to promote a data-driven approach to
investigating the idea of social media addiction. This legislation would
authorize the Department of Health (DOH) to head a research program on the

effects of technology and social media on children.

SECTION 6. National Privacy Commission - the National Privacy Commission
(NPC) with its function to monitor and ensure compliance of the country with
international standards set for data protection in accordance with Republic Act

No.10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012 shall:

(a) Receive complaints, institute investigations, facilitate or enable settlement of
complaints through the use of alternative dispute resolution processes,
adjudicate, award indemnity on matters affecting any personal information,
prepare reports on disposition of complaints and resolution of any
investigation it initiates, and, in cases it deems appropriate, publicize any
such report;

(b) Issue cease and desist orders, impose a temporary or permanent ban on the
processing of personal information, upon finding that the processing will be
detrimental to national security and public interest;


(c) Compel or petition any entity, government agency or instrumentality to abide
by its orders or take action on a matter affecting data privacy:

(d) Monitor the compliance of other government agencies or instrumentalities on
their security and technical measures and recommend the necessary action
in order to meet minimum standards for protection of personal information
pursuant to this Act;

(e) Provide assistance on matters relating to privacy or data protection at the
request of a national or local agency, a private entity or any person.

SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations -The DICT and other
government agencies concerned shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to
implement the provisions thereof within ninety (90) days after the Approval of this
Act.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause - If any portion of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the same shalt not affect the validity and effectivity of the other

provisions not affected hereby
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, rules and
regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby

repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after

publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved.