TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Office of the Secretary First Regular Session JAN 28 P4:27 SENATE S. No. 1729 RECEIVED BY Introduced by Senator Camille A. Villar AN ACT PROMOTING SAFE ONLINE SPACES FOR ALL MOBILE MULTIMEDIA APPLICATIONS AND DIGITAL PLATFORMS USERS EXPLANATORY NOTE With 97.5million internet users in the Philippines - about 83.8% of the total population - and heavy reliance on internet-enabled applications, it is beyond dispute that the digital era is upon us. Without discounting the benefits of online technological advancements, a balance is necessary to address the negative effects, especially for the protection of the youth or minors, who compose a commanding portion of the total users. This is because the scarcely regulated online space has also become the petri dish of all sorts of uncensored contents, age-inappropriate language, discriminatory views, and breeding ground of "fake news". 1 One example is the act of sharing contents which are sexually charged, if not explicit, and the use of intemperate, obscene and offensive language or otherwise known as "trash talking", within these apps. These pose danger to easily impressionable and susceptible younger population, who may perceive these acts as harmless, normal or permissive, or worse replicate them. The aforementioned cannot be sanctioned as this may lead to eventual moral decay of the youth. Exposure to harsh and unsafe online environment needs utmost governmental attention since early childhood developmental years are considered critical in terms of a person's behavioral and personality formation. 1 https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2025-philippines (2025)
In order to promote and maintain users safety and to protect them from disturbing practices currently plaguing the digital world, the State has to act in close cooperation with the parents, who are primarily charged with the responsibility of inculcating discipline and character development of their children, and other important stakeholders. Additionally, the State shall champion the accountable utilization of internet and online space, highlight Filipino virtues regarding respect, and support smart parenting. The bill aims to promote the responsible use of social media applications and digital platforms, through the adoption and implementation by the relevant government agency, of sound guidelines on avoiding the use of language otherwise considered as obscene, improper, discriminatory, profanity-laced, indecent, intemperate and offensive. This shall include regulation on the ability to share, within these applications and platforms, contents which are explicit, exploitative and immoral. Also required is the creation of a prompt notification on these apps that will advise the users of the possible exposure to menacing and toxic environment, as well as the conduct of a Mandatory Parental Awareness and Information Drive. This is in line with the constitutionally declared policy of the State to promote and protect the youth's physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. Cumiacswun CAMILLE A. VILLAR
Sellate TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE Offire of the cretary REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session ) 26 JAN 28 P4:27 SENATE 1729 S. No. — RECEIVED Introduced by Senator Camille A. Villar AN ACT PROMOTING SAFE ONLINE SPACES FOR ALL MOBILE MULTIMEDIA APPLICATIONS AND DIGITAL PLATFORMS USERS Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Safe Online
2 Spaces Act". 00
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is a constitutionally declared policy of
the State to promote and protect the physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being of its citizens, especially the youth. To breathe life to this provision, the State shall promote the responsible use of all social media 7 applications and digital platforms.
Sec. 3. Promotion of Safe Online Spaces - The Department of
9 Information and Communications Technology (DICT), in coordination with 10 National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and National Privacy 11 Commission (NPC), shall develop, adopt and implement guidelines for all social media and digital platforms, including mobile, gaming and interactive applications with social interactions capability downloadable in the country, promoting responsible usage, such as avoidance of language otherwise considered as obscene, improper, discriminatory, profanity-laced, indecent, intemperate and offensive. This shall include regulation on the ability to share, within these applications and platforms, contents which are explicit, exploitative and immoral. An indispensable part of such guidelines shall be the mandatory short prompt notification on all social media and digital platforms, including mobile,
gaming and interactive applications with social interactions capability, forewarning users that these apps may expose them to conversations, exchanges and interactions containing obscene, improper and offensive language, lascivious videos and graphic contents. Such prompt shall appear on the screen once the user opens the app for the first time in a day.
Sec. 4. Mandatory Parental Awareness and Information Drive. - The
Local Government Units (LGUs) through the Rural or City Health Units and the Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) through the Day Care 9 Centers, are hereby directed to spearhead the implementation of the Mandatory Parental Awareness and Information Drive for parents and guardians. Parents or guardians shall be required to attend and complete a program on the dangers of children having unrestricted access to all social media and digital platforms, including mobile, gaming and interactive applications with social interactions. This shall be mandatory before their children be allowed to enroll in any early education program, both in public and in private sectors. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), in close coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) and with the help of National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and National Privacy Commission (NPC) shall create, develop, furnish and distribute materials for this program on responsible use of social media applications other digital platforms. The Department of Education (DepEd) is also directed to include the Parental Awareness and Information Drive on their agenda during Parents- Teachers Association meetings for elementary and secondary levels of education.
Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - The Department
of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), in coordination with the appropriate government agencies, including the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Education (DepEd), the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and National Privacy Commission 32 (NPC), and in consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall promulgate the
implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) from the effectivity of this Act.
Sec. 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.
Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, issuances, rules
and regulations, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
following its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,