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Bam hopes House bill regulating social media will combat cyber threats


Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV on Thursday said the Senate will closely look at the bill filed by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez which seeks to penalize internet users who will open fake social media accounts.

"We will definitely take a closer look at Speaker Alvarez's bill," Aquino told GMA News Online in a text message, even as he expressed hope the measure would effectively help combat "cyber threats."

Aquino currently chairs the Senate committee on science and technology.

In House Bill No. 5021, social media networks will be required to ensure “the veracity of the identity of a social media user," in an attempt to regulate the use of social media.

“Applicants for social media accounts shall be subjected by the Social Media Networks to effective identity verification in order to ascertain the authenticity of an account,” Section 5 of the bill reads.

Moreover, accounts found to be "compromised" or fake will be shut down, the bill said.

Aquino believes that cyber threats such as internet hate speech and trolling should be addressed. 

"There's a general agreement that hate speech, trolling and cyber threats need to be curbed," Aquino said.

He, however, noted that there is no counterpart or similar bill currently filed at the Senate.

"[H]opefully the bills that have been filed and will be filed will find the best way to address these [issues]," he said. — MDM, GMA News

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