Bacolod Rep. Albee Benitez is urging Congress to begin deliberations on the proposed “Emman Bill,” which seeks to protect the public from online harassment by requiring digital platforms to act quickly on reported abuses.
Benitez said the measure emphasizes the responsibility of social media companies to curb harmful posts and comments, noting that platforms often allow content to gain traction even when it harms others.
House Bill 5750 proposes penalties for cyberlibel, online hate speech, cyberstalking, and non-consensual sharing of private information. It excludes public officials and government employees from its protections.
Under the bill, platforms must swiftly remove abusive content; suspend or ban violators; assign trained content flaggers; preserve data for evidence; and provide transparent reporting and user mechanisms for complaints and redress.
Benitez also raised the possibility of requiring national ID verification for social media registration to curb fake accounts, saying identity checks would help ensure users are legitimate.
