‘Emman Atienza’ bill filed to fight online harassment
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. JV Ejercito has filed the “Emman Atienza Bill,” also known as the “Anti-Online Hate and Harassment Act,” which seeks to combat cyberbullying and other forms of online abuse.
The proposed measure is named after Emman Atienza, daughter of TV personality Kim Atienza, who passed away while struggling with mental health challenges. Emman, who had an active online presence, had also been subjected to intense online bullying.
In the bill, Ejercito said that while people have the right to free speech, it should not infringe on the rights of others. He noted that online bullying has caused real-world pain, the kind that cannot be erased as easily as deleting a comment.
Ejercito’s measure seeks to expand the scope of the Cybercrime Prevention Act and the Anti-Bullying Act by providing a clearer definition of online hate and harassment.
Under the proposed law, cyberlibel, online hate speech, online harassment, and similar offenses would be prohibited.
Digital platforms would be required to promptly remove or disable content classified as online harassment while preserving the data for possible court proceedings.
The measure also mandates platforms to strengthen their mechanisms against online hate and harassment, including employing trained content flaggers and swiftly suspending users who spread such content.
The Department of Health and the Department of Social Welfare and Development would be tasked with providing improved psychosocial support for victims, while the Department of Justice (DOJ) and other relevant legal agencies would ensure access to legal assistance.
The DOJ would also coordinate efforts requiring online platforms to take down harmful content.
Under the proposed law, offenders would face fines ranging from P50,000 to P100,000 for a first offense. Second and subsequent violations would carry penalties of at least P100,000 but not more than P200,000.
If the offender is a minor, they would instead undergo counseling and education.
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