House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Is responsible vlogging too much to ask?
Because that's essentially what the House of Representatives wants to help attain with its upcoming inquiry on Internet trolls and the spread of fake news on online, to be carried out by the "tri-committee (tri-comm)".
One of the prime movers of this probe, Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, clarified that the House is not out to curtail the freedom of expression.
"Linawin ko lang, itong investigation na gagawin ng tri-com, ang layunin nito ay magkaroon ng panukalang batas na magkaroon ng regulatory framework no yung paggamit ng social media," he told reporters in a chance interview on late Tuesday night. Jan. 21.
(I'll just clarify, the tri-comm's investigation is aimed at crafting a bill on a regulatory framework on the use of social media.)
"Wala po tayong pinipigilang gumamit ng social media (We're not preventing anyone from using social media), anybody can express what they want to say, say what they want to express...wala pong curtailment of the freedom of expression and speech (There is no curtailment of the freedom of expression and speech)" underscored Barbers.
He went on to cite the qualities of mainstream media, which observe regulations against the fabrication of stories, and the practice of getting all sides to a story.
"That is the normal ang logical practice. That's what you call responsible journalism. Eh I think dapat mayroon din tayong responsible vlogging. Di naman pwe-pwede magkalat tayo ng fake news," Barbers said.
(I think we should also have responsible vlogging. We can go spreading fake news.)
That vlogging is a potentially lucrative enterprise wasn't lost on Barbers. If anything, this makes the proposed regulatory framework all the more appropriate.
He says there are also reports that certain paid vloggers get sponsored by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) and foreign drug syndicates.
"May kumikita eh, di ba? Alam natin yung pagba-vlog, namo-monetize yun, eh lalo na yung may nagpopondo sa kanila. And we were given information na may nagpopondong mga sindikato sa POGO at sindikato ng droga na mula sa China," he said.
(They profit from this, right? We know that vlogging gets monetized, especially the paid vloggers. And we were given information that they were being funded by POGO syndicates and drug syndicates from China.)
He says there are vloggers who create content solely for the purpose of besmirching someone's reputation. Unlike mainstream media practitioners, there's no mechanism to hold them accountable for their actions.
Barbers further said: "They're only after the engagements eh. The more engagements they get, the bigger the money that they make."
"Ang ating layunin ay magkaroon ng displina (Our aim is to instill discipline)...that's why we want to regulate," the veteran solon added.
He said the tri-comm will begin its probe early next month. The Committees on Public Order and Safety, on Public Information, and on Information and Communications Technology comprise the special three-way panel.