The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said there is now an ongoing discussion on requiring social media users to register or be verified, a measure that rights groups criticized and that was eventually thumbed down by then-President Rodrigo Duterte in 2022.
This proposal is similar to the SIM registration, which mandates SIM users to register using their real identity and that the DICT promised in 2022 would prevent text scams.
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said talks will continue with social media companies and other stakeholders to ensure that all sides will be heard before implementing such policy.
DICT Undersecretary Sarah Sison added that the first public consultation will be done online this week. They will meet with various social media firms to check how this can be implemented and if there are concerns or comments from other groups.
“We are cognizant of the fact that there are a lot of issues involved in terms of the right to freedom of speech, the right to express their thoughts, but we have to balance this with the need for security as well as protecting children and the ones most vulnerable,” Sison added.
Opponents of the social media registration bill in 2022 raised privacy issues and said mandatory registration could cause harm to activists and rights defenders.
“Even the leaders who shaped our nation’s identity made use of fictitious names to freely express themselves,” internet freedom and ICT rights advocacy group Democracy.Net.PH said then.
Rights group Foundation for Media Alternatives also argued then that internet anonymity offers safety for sectors at risk of harassment.
“Women and members of gender-diverse communities are typically encouraged to use gender-neutral aliases online to protect themselves from unwarranted bullying, harassment or stalking online,” it said then.
CICC: Easier to track down cybercriminals
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said if this policy is implemented it would be easier to track down cybercriminals or those who use the online space for harm.
“We’re trying to keep the internet safe by taking away ‘yung capability ng mga tao na to hide under anonymity,” CICC Executive Director Aboy Paraiso said.
Paraiso clarified that if the policy pushes through, the government can only check the social media accounts if there are legitimate complaints, similar to the processes with registered SIM cards.
DICT officials clarified the talks are still in consultation period and no timeline has been set yet for the policy. (ABS-CBN News)