Senator Erwin Tulfo is pushing for legislation imposing heavier fines and penalties on social media platforms that allow prohibited photos and videos to circulate online, particularly content involving minors and victims of violent incidents.
Tulfo raised the proposal in a privilege speech at the Senate plenary session on Tuesday, August 25, following the spread of images allegedly showing young people involved in recent school shootings in Tacloban and Zamboanga City.
The senator said social media companies should be held accountable when negligence in moderating content causes harm to the public.
“Kung kumikita po sila ng bilyon-bilyon mula sa mga advertisement at views ng kanilang mga subscribers, dapat din silang managot kapag ang kanilang kapabayaan ay nagdudulot ng malaking pinsala sa publiko,” Tulfo said.
He stressed that individuals involved in criminal incidents, particularly minors, should not be subjected to public judgment or turned into viral content while cases remain unresolved in court.
Tulfo also condemned the circulation of images showing the faces of victims and alleged perpetrators of school shootings, saying such material should not be treated as entertainment or online content.
“Ang krimen ay hindi entertainment. Ang paghihirap ng biktima ay hindi content,” he said.
The senator is seeking stricter regulation and greater accountability for social media companies that fail to prevent the dissemination of prohibited material.
As chairman of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, Tulfo said platforms that profit from advertisements and user engagement should also face consequences when lapses in content moderation contribute to harm.
His proposal comes amid renewed concerns over the online circulation of sensitive images involving minors and victims of violent incidents, raising questions about the responsibility of social media platforms in protecting vulnerable individuals and preventing harmful content from spreading.
