Philippines considers self-regulatory body for vloggers

The House of Representatives in the Philippines is considering a plan to tackle fake news, especially concerning online content creators such as vloggers and influencers. During a recent hearing, Bataan Representative Geraldine Roman proposed forming a self-regulatory body known as the Digital Council of the Philippines (DCP). This council would include content creators, advertisers, public relations professionals, academics, and members from the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT). Roman believes this body could help establish standards similar to those used by broadcasting and advertising organizations. Her suggestion follows a hearing where three vloggers were heavily questioned by lawmakers. The vloggers had to apologize for controversial social media posts relating to significant political events. Roman emphasized that while free speech is a right, it should come with responsibilities. Under her proposal, content creators would develop their own rules and ethical guidelines, promoting professionalism within their sector. Roman stressed that this initiative aims to enhance the reputation of content creators and ensure that their contributions are respected.