The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is preparing a legislative framework for age-gating on social media as authorities examine possible online threats linked to recent mass shootings, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said Thursday.

Speaking during a Senate budget hearing on Thursday, Sept. 24, Matibag said the proposed framework would establish age-based monitoring of social media and cyberspace use. He said the NBI also needs additional funding and equipment for threat assessment and analytics.

“We are preparing a legislative framework that we will submit to the Senate and to the House of Representatives,” Matibag said, referring to what the agency calls “age-gating.”

The proposal comes amid concerns over a series of mass shootings in the country. Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said information gathered by authorities indicated that three shootings occurred in successive months, which he described as unusual.

Pangilinan raised the possibility that the incidents and related online activity could be organized or coordinated to create fear and instability, but did not present evidence establishing such a link.

Matibag said the NBI is monitoring cyberspace and coordinating with schools in responding to threats. He cited the agency’s work with schools in South Cotabato following a recent shooting.

The NBI chief said the agency also needs more tools to prevent online manipulation from affecting government and public institutions.

“We don't want that our electoral process, our judicial process, our legislative process at yung ginagawa ng ating gobyerno will be dictated by people who can manipulate dito sa cyberspace,” Matibag said.

He added that the NBI is receiving support from private partners, including the donation of drones for crime-fighting operations.

Matibag assured the Senate that the NBI is committed to combating online manipulation and protecting the country’s cyberspace, provided the agency secures the additional funding and resources it needs.

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