BLEET

Republic of the Philippines
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIV!
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, _715

Introduced by Rep. ARNOLFO “ARNIE” A. TEVES, JR.

AN ACT MANDATING THE AUTHENTICATION OF ONLINE AND SOCIAL
MEDIA MEMBERSHIP 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 media 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 indispensable tools for disseminating information especially
those that concem 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 Philippines 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 aged 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
liber 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.

ped

ARNOLFO “ARNIE” A. TEVES, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. _715

Introduced by Rep. ARNOLFO “ARNIE” A. TEVES, JR.

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

Be 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.”

SEC. 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 members’ identities upon
registration with the use of their valid identity card or barangay certificate numbers provided
by the government.

SEC. 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 the 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.

SEC. 4. Penalty Clause. 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 or barangay certificate number by the
government to each individual; (b) 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 of
defamation; libelous and malicious acts, and trade of illegal drugs, weapons and firearms,
whether or not such account its linked to a valid identification card or barangay certificate
number provided by the government to individual.

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

SEC 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.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect (15) days after its complete publication
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation whichever
comes first.

Approved.