Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid has filed a bill mandating all social media operators to require users to submit a valid proof of identification prior to online registration to facilitate secure and accountable interactions in the internet.

Lapid said such policy would be the key in the fight against disinformation and, at the same time, help build a system of responsibility and accountability across all social media platforms.

The senator has earlier filed Senate Bill (S.B.) No. 1289, or the proposed Online and Social Media Membership Accountability Act, wherein all establishments that maintain a social media website are to require their users to submit valid proofs of identification which can be accessed by law enforcers in cases involving criminal acts committed through these sites.

“Layunin natin na mapigilan ng bagong panukala na ito ang sinuman na gumawa ng mga anonymous na account online (This bill primarily seeks to stop anyone who wants to create an anonymous online account),” Lapid said of the bill.

“Higit na kailanman, ay kailangan na nating solusyonan at panagutin ang mga trolls na nagpapakalat ng mga peke at maling impormasyon nang kasing bilis ng virus na kinakalaban natin ngayon (Now more than ever, do we need to find solutions and to exact accountability from trolls who disseminate fake and or wrong information faster than the virus we are fighting right now),” Lapid added.

He said the bill specifically seeks to mandate the authentication process for all social media platforms through registration of the users’ accounts using any valid government-issued identification and/or barangay certificate.

The measure also compels all social media operators to reveal the identity of those behind fictitious accounts in their platforms.

The bill also said Philippine-based users must use or present any government-issued identification cards, including barangay certification of identity as proof of identification.

Work and school identification cards may also be used provided they reflect the actual name of the person so identified.

Lapid said website users may still use different usernames and have multiple accounts but their membership must still be supported by real identities.

Under the bill, the Data Privacy Act applies to all personal information collected by these websites.

For existing members, the bill requires operators to require each member to submit a valid identification card as a condition for continuing their membership on their platform.

Meanwhile, individuals who will be found to verify their information using fake or falsified proofs of identification shall be punished under this bill.