Philippine Senate passes bill barring under-18s from age-restricted social media
In short
The Philippine Senate on October 8 passed on third reading a bill that would bar minors under 18 from registering, accessing, using or creating accounts on age-restricted social media platforms. Platforms that violate it could face administrative fines of 5 million to 20 million pesos, and parents or guardians fines of 5,000 to 20,000 pesos or community service.
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The Philippine Senate on October 8 passed on third reading a bill to restrict social media use by minors under 18, Yicai and Jiemian reported, citing CCTV News, and China News Service reported from Manila. The outlets give the bill's name in Chinese as 《儿童网络安全与保护法案》, which translates as the Child Online Safety and Protection Act. Under the bill, minors under 18 in the Philippines would be barred from registering, accessing, using, maintaining, operating or creating accounts on age-restricted social media platforms. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Yicai and Jiemian reported that international social media platforms operating in the Philippines must comply with the law and designate a representative in the Philippines to work with the Philippine side on implementing it. China News Service described the requirement as applying to social media platforms operating in the Philippines, with the representative working with relevant Philippine authorities. Platforms that violate the law could face fines of 5 million to 20 million pesos; China News Service said this applies each time and put the range at about 530,000 to 2.14 million yuan. Parents or guardians who violate the law could face fines of 5,000 to 20,000 pesos, about 530 to 2,100 yuan according to China News Service, or be required to perform community service. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to China News Service, the bill aims to protect minors from the physical, mental, social and emotional harm that social media may cause. [ 3 ]
China News Service reported that the House of Representatives on October 6 passed on second reading a bill named in Chinese 《儿童数字安全、保护与福祉法案》 (Child Digital Safety, Protection and Well-being Act), which would ban children under 13 from using social media and strengthen regulation of minors' use of online gaming platforms. Under the Philippine legislative process, as the agency described it, each chamber's bill goes to the other chamber after passing third reading, and the two are then reconciled into a single text submitted to the President for signature before becoming law. [ 3 ]
China News Service said several school shootings in the Philippines recently, and issues such as teenagers' exposure to violent online content, have drawn public attention. On September 23 the Philippine National Privacy Commission called on social media, online platforms and game developers to strengthen the protection of children's personal information and adopt effective age verification mechanisms, the agency reported. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The bill would require social media platforms operating in the Philippines to comply, designate a representative in the country and face fines of up to 20 million pesos. It is not yet law: according to China News Service, the Senate bill and a House bill that targets children under 13 must be reconciled into one text and signed by the President.
Key facts
- The Philippine Senate passed the bill on third reading on October 8. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Minors under 18 would be barred from registering, accessing, using, maintaining, operating or creating accounts on age-restricted social media platforms. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Social media platforms operating in the Philippines would have to comply and designate a representative in the Philippines to help implement the law. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Platforms that violate the law could face fines of 5 million to 20 million pesos. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Parents or guardians who violate it could face fines of 5,000 to 20,000 pesos or be required to perform community service. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The House of Representatives on October 6 passed on second reading a bill that would ban children under 13 from social media. [ 3 ]
- The two chambers' bills must be reconciled into a single text and signed by the President to become law, China News Service reported. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Philippine Senate passed the bill restricting social media use by minors under 18 on third reading on October 8. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Under the bill, minors under 18 would be barred from registering, accessing, using, maintaining, operating or creating accounts on age-restricted social media platforms. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Platforms would have to designate a representative in the Philippines and could face fines of 5 million to 20 million pesos for violations. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Parents or guardians who violate the law could face fines of 5,000 to 20,000 pesos or community service. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Which platforms the requirements cover. Yicai and Jiemian say international social media platforms operating in the Philippines, while China News Service says social media platforms operating in the Philippines.
- What the final law will contain. The Senate bill covers minors under 18 while the House bill passed on second reading targets children under 13, and China News Service says the two must be reconciled into one text before the President signs it.
- When the law would take effect. None of the documents gives a date.
- Whether platform fines apply per violation. Only China News Service says the fine applies each time.