Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito has filed a bill seeking to fight cyberbullying, fake news and online defamation in the country in a bid to protect vulnerable users especially the youth.

In filing Senate Bill No. 1474, or the “Anti-Online Hate and Harassment” bill, Ejercito sought to protect the Filipino youth against falling victim to online bullying, following the death of Emman Atienza, the late daughter of his friend and TV personality Kim Atienza.

“While social media serves as a platform to advocate for truth, it has also given room for ruining reputations, spreading fake news, rumors, false accusations, and violence,” Ejercito said.

“In reality, there are no delete or edit buttons for the ones we have hurt,” the senator said.

He cited a survey by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) involving over 1,200 Filipino children, which revealed troubling experiences with unsafe online behavior and harmful content, as well as their strong desire to make the online space safer.

“With the primary objective to protect individuals from online harassment, this bill seeks to strengthen the implementation of laws that deter cyberbullying and online hate,” the Senate deputy majority leader said.

“And as Emman used to always say, to promote ‘a little kindness’,” he stressed.

The lawmaker also pointed out that the massive online population in the Philippines has made Filipinos especially vulnerable to digital abuse.

“At the onset of 2024, 73.4 percent of the country’s population, or about 86.75 million, are social media users. With approximately 10 hours of internet use daily, the online exposure of Filipinos is among the highest in the world,” he added.

“This fact proves that it is crucial for our country to provide stronger online security and protection for users,” he lamented.

According to Ejercito, SB No. 1474 expands the protection of citizens under existing laws such as the Cybercrime Prevention Act and the Anti-Bullying Act, which he describes as limited in scope.

Under the bill, acts such as cyberlibel, online hate speech, and harassment, including expressions inciting hatred or discrimination based on one’s gender or sexuality, cyberstalking, and the non-consensual sharing of private information will be explicitly penalized.

The bill also upholds fair commentary, satire, criticism, and opinions, especially those directed at public officials, remain fully protected except when they contain false or defamatory statements.

Under the proposed law, digital platforms will be required to act swiftly by removing or blocking harmful content within 24 hours of verified complaints or court orders.

Platforms are also required to suspend or ban offending users, preserve digital evidence, and provide accessible reporting and redress systems. Failure to comply may lead to penalties or affect their authority to operate in the Philippines.

Ejercito clarified, however, that the measure, do not aim to restrict speech but to promote accountability in digital spaces and uphold the balance between free expression and human dignity.

“We hope Emman’s passing will not be in vain as we push for the immediate passage of this measure. We need to bring back kindness online, where people pause and think before they post. We must prevent another tragedy where our fellowmen, especially the youth, are pushed to the breaking point by the vitriol of online hate,” he said.