To protect Filipino youths from the ill effects of social media, Senator Ping Lacson proposed the use of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) or National ID as the primary basis for verifying the age of users seeking access to social media platforms.
Lacson, the principal author of Senate Bill 2424 or the proposed Child Online Safety and Protection Act as he was the first to file a bill on the subject (Senate Bill 40), sought to simplify the process and remove technicalities and gray areas that could result in problems in its implementation.
“I-simplify natin (at) gamitin natin ang National ID… Ang panukala ko, pagdating sa period of amendments, gawin nating must ang basis, gawin natin ang National ID o ano ang backup ID na pwedeng gamitin para documented,” the veteran legislator said during his interpellation of Senate Bill 2424 sponsored by Senator Robin Padilla, who expressed openness to the proposal.
“Ang pangunahin (dapat ang National ID kasi) bawat Pilipino at birth meron na.”
“Kung baligtarin natin ang batayan, gawing pangunahing batayan ang National ID at kung gusto ng socmed platforms ibang batayan, nasa kanila. Pero ang pangunahin (dapat ang National ID kasi) bawat Pilipino at birth meron na. Mas accurate ‘yan at kinikilala ng ating batas,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
The senator also sponsored what is now the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys Act) or Republic Act 11055, which establishes a single, unified national ID system for all Filipino citizens and resident aliens.
“Sa akin, okay ibang batayan pero gawin nating pangunahing batayan at must submit ang National ID natin,” he stressed.
Under Senate Bill 2424, minors below 16 would be barred from registering on social media platforms, while those aged 16 to below 18 would be allowed to use them subject to age-assurance requirements and child-safety protocols.
Lacson said the methods currently contemplated under the bill – including self-declaration of age by the user, use of third parties to determine age, and even artificial intelligence to estimate age – could create technicalities and gray areas that may make the measure more difficult to implement and easier to circumvent.
“Pag naglatag tayo ng discretion maglilikha tayo ng butas… upang paikutan ang pagpapatupad ng batas na ito,” he said.
“The National ID registration has already covered about 96 percent of the population and continues to expand.”
Besides, Lacson noted that the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has said that National ID registration has already covered about 96 percent of the population and continues to expand.
Also, he proposed that the prohibition be maintained throughout ages 16 and 17, during which youths can be taught a structured social media and digital literacy education, as part of the senior high school curriculum.
“Hindi ba mas coherent to maintain the restriction throughout the age of minority and use the two SHS years for structured social media and digital literacy education so they understand the risks of social media before gaining unrestricted access at 18?” Lacson said.
He added Filipinos below 18 must not have access to online platforms without the proper supervision in schools and at home.
“Alisin natin ang age restricted, pagbawalan natin ang access na walang supervision,” Lacson said.
He proposed as well a more active role for the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), including quasi-judicial authority, to determine liability and impose administrative penalties for violators.
Padilla expressed openness to Lacson’s suggested amendments.
“Napakaganda ng inyong minumungkahi,” he said.
