The House of Representatives is seeking a review of the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) suspended Seal Badge Policy for online sellers, service providers, and content creators following its sudden suspension on October 20.
House Resolution No. 1565, filed by Makabayan bloc lawmakers Sarah Elago of Gabriela Women's Party-list, Renee Co of Kabataan Party-list, and Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers Party-list, calls for an investigation to ensure the policy is fair, transparent, and protective of online workers.
The lawmakers said the policy was implemented without adequate consultation, adding that more than 50,000 online workers had reportedly registered for the seal badge before the BIR suspended the requirement.
They stressed that suspending the policy was not enough and called for an explanation and investigation into its implementation.
The BIR, meanwhile, cited technical concerns and data privacy risks, noting that publicly accessible QR codes on the badges could expose sellers’ personal information and make them vulnerable to stalking, harassment, scams, and identity theft.
Watch the full report here:
