Movie and Television Review and Classification Board Chair Rachel Arenas shared how MTRCB wants to regulate social media content.
The MTRCB Chair recently had lunch with some selected members of the press to promote their “Matalinong Panonood” campaign.
The MTRCB doesn’t want to limit its regulation to television only.
“The law says all platforms, so legally, we can require them and we can police the digital world, even those who supply content directly online, like bloggers and those trolls who circulate fake news.”
Arenas shared that there will be difficulties in monitoring but she will make sure that guidelines will be imposed with the help of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
“It will be difficult to monitor them as you don’t really know who you are communicating with, but we have to start somewhere and form guidelines for them to follow, with the help of the National Telecommunications Commission or NTC.”
Adding, the chair shared that this kind of problem isn’t just present in our country, as she attended past conference, it seems that different countries haws
“Pero hindi lang naman tayo ang may ganitong problem. I attended a conference abroad and even different countries have the same problem kasi even kids have cellphones and they can access sa streaming any kind of show they want to watch.”
“That’s why we have to stress the importance of Matalinong Panonood. I’ve already asked the networks with streaming shows. I told them to show goodwill and register with us so we can help in formulating the policies that will help guide them.”
Recently, iWant signed the ASEAN Subscription Video-on-Demand Industry Content Code, joining other regional networks such as Netflix, HOOQ, iflix, Malaysia’s tonton, Astro, and dimsum, and Thailand’s DOONEE. The code aims to protect minors from accessing age-sensitive and pornographic content, to empower users and their families to choose video content that suits their needs, desires, preferences, and beliefs, and to separate legitimate services from pirate sites.
According to iWant head Elaine Uy-Casipit, signing the content code obliges them to be socially responsible in the content that they will be giving to their viewers.
“We are honored and thrilled to unite with other distinguished streaming platforms in the region in this pledge to create and produce socially responsible content, which has always been the top priority of iWant as the Philippines’ first local streaming platform.
“Aside from providing high-quality entertainment that resonates with Filipinos, we want to make sure that our users are able to access and watch video content that matches the viewing preferences of every member of the family.”
