Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is amenable to a potential government regulation of social media platforms in a bid to crack down on cyber crimes in the country.
According to Dela Rosa, while the Senate could draft a bill setting standards for these digital media platforms for safer cyberspace, the real question at hand was whether the government has the muscle to make it happen.
The former police chief tackled the quest to rein in social media during a Senate finance committee’s deliberation on the proposed budget of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Thursday. Dela Rosa is chairperson of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs.
“One question lang, this pertains to this government’s technical capability to regulate social media platforms. Kaya ba natin ‘yan?” Dela Rosa asked the DICT officials.
He mentioned the iron-fisted approach of China on digital media oversight, he inquired if the Philippine authorities could replicate such enforcement. He is frustrated that cyber crimes continue to flourish despite government’s best efforts.
“‘Yung China ‘pag sinabi nila na, ‘Ikaw, social media platform, you do not conform to our government regulations, you do not conform to government standards, hindi ka pwedeng makapasok dito. Tigok ka dito.’ Tayo, kaya ba nating gawin ‘yan dito sa Pilipinas?” he asked.
“Just like dito sa Senado, gagawa kami ng batas dito, we will provide you with the policy instrument…As far as regulation is concerned, as far as implementation, kaya ba niyong i-implement ‘yung batas na gagawin namin?” He added.
Dela Rosa bewailed that social media platforms have assumed the role of rule-makers, setting their own community standards, while the government has “no control” over them.
“Kasi lumalabas ngayon sila nagko-control sa atin. Maraming bansa silang kino-control eh. Wala tayong control sa kanila,” he said.
