INAPPROPRIATE? | Complaints grow over online content with sexual, violent themes, says MTRCB

March 6, 2023 , 02:37 PM

By Beatrice Puente

(March 6, 2023) – As senators resumed the hearing on the mandate of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), its chairperson said on Monday it has received many complaints about online content with lewd and violent themes.

Lala Sotto-Antonio said they encounter inappropriate movies online but admitted that they could not regulate such content because of their limited power.

“Base sa complaints na natatanggap ng aming ahensya, hindi namin mabilang dahil araw-araw may complaint kaming nare-receive with regard to materials that are streamed online and nakikita sa user-generated content,” said Sotto-Antonio in a hearing led by the panel on public information and mass media.

MTRCB Chair Lala Sotto confirms during Senate hearing that the agency has been receiving complaints on irresponsible materials in online streaming and user generated content “Mas marami ang kalaswaan. Meron din karahasan pero mas talamak ang kahalayan.” @News5PH @onenewsph

— marie ann los banos (@maeannelosbanos) March 6, 2023

She further noted that those with violent content are much easier to flag than those with sexual themes. She expressed concern that children will be negatively affected if they will continue to proliferate.

“Kabataan ang pinakanaaapektuhan ‘pag nakakakita ng ganitong klaseng mga bagay dahil ang media ay napakalaking bahagi ng paghuhulma ng isipan,” said Sotto-Antonio.

Last February 23, senators began their discussion on measures that seek to widen the MTRCB’s mandate over the changing landscape of the media and entertainment industry. Among the lawmakers pushing for this is Sen. Robin Padilla, a former actor, who filed Senate Bill (SB) No. 1940.

Padilla, who leads the joint panel hearings, explained that his bill aims to address the limited jurisdiction, organizational structure, and operational competence of the MTRCB.

“It (the MTRCB) also lacks enabling powers to cover potent types of visual media that have proliferated in many forms, including online streaming platforms, on-demand streaming services, and even video games,” read the bill.

Under SB 1940, the chairperson and the vice chairperson of the MTRCB shall have a term of three years while board members have two years.

Meanwhile, the salary of the chairperson will be matched to that of a department undersecretary and the vice chairperson will be on par with an assistant secretary. Board members will receive the same allowances granted to an Executive Director V on top of the honorarium for the materials they review.

“Updating the rank and compensation of our officials commensurate to the integral role in the MTRCB is proper as they are essentially performing the agency’s core mandate. This is but just to consider their contribution not just to the betterment of the MTRCB but to the welfare of the viewing public,” said Sotto-Antonio.

MTRCB chair Sotto seeks for expansion of their mandate so they can cover online streaming (ex:Netflix) and user generated content (Ex: Youtube): “We are not suppressing the freedom of creation.All we want is direct line to them where they are going wrong, issue notices” @News5PH

— marie ann los banos (@maeannelosbanos) March 6, 2023

But the possibility of expanding the authority of the MTRCB also spurred concerns about censorship. In 2020, the regulating body also expressed its desire to regulate content on Netflix and other video-streaming websites.

Padilla, in his previous speech, maintained they are not after censorship.

“Hindi tayo kalaban ng malaya at malikhaing sining. Bagkus, tayo ay kakampi ng matalinong panunuod laban sa hindi katanggap-tanggap na media tulad ng immoral, mahalay, mga paniniwalang laban sa batas at moralidad ng lipunan,” said Padilla.

(PM | With reports from Maeanne Los Baños, News5)

Privacy Statement

Our Privacy Commitment

TV5 Network Inc. values and respects your privacy. We are committed to safeguarding your personal data in compliance with Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and its implementing rules and regulations.

We have developed a Privacy Policy that adopts and observes appropriate standards for personal data protection. While our Privacy Policy sets out the general principles governing the collection, use, and disclosure of our users’ personal information, our Privacy Commitment seeks to inform you more about TV5’s privacy practices.

Why do we collect your personal information (as applicable)?

We may collect and maintain basic information about you as site user of TV5 sites for the following purposes:

To deliver news and updates on current events, sports, esports and entertainment;
To share livestreams of news and sports events;
To understand our viewers’ needs and preferences;
To meet legal and regulatory requirements; and
To perform other processes or disclosures that are required to comply with pertinent laws, rules, or regulations.

Where do we get your personal information?

There are several ways we collect your personal information.

Information that you personally provided.

Most of the personal information we have are those that you have provided us when you:
- Register to our programs or services;
- Inquired, filed a complaint or requested for our services;
- Took part in our research and surveys; and/or
- Became our Partner, Vendor, Contractor or Supplier.

Information we collect during your engagement with us

We also collect information as you use our products and services, like:
- Viewing our websites;
- Activities that are being tracked by our website cookies;
- Calling our hotline;
- Using our apps, websites, and self-service channels and portals; and/or
- Joining our promos, prize raffles, or rewards and loyalty programs.

Information we collect from other sources

Other means of collection of information may be through:
- Our market research initiatives;
- When you visit and use our websites and mobile application; and
- Subsidiaries, affiliates, and third-party business partners to whom you have given consent to share your information to us.

When do we disclose personal information?

There may be instances when we are required to share the information you provided us. In such cases, we ensure that your personal information will be disclosed on a confidential manner, through secure channels and in compliance with the Data Privacy Act and other privacy laws.

We will never share, rent, or sell your personal information to third parties outside of TV5 except in special cases where you have given consent, and in cases described in our privacy policy.

In some instances, we may be required to disclose your personal information to our agents, subsidiaries, affiliates, business partners and other third-party agencies and service providers as part of our regular business operations and for the provision of our programs and services. This means we might share your information with our service providers, contractors, and professional advisers who help us provide our services.

How we protect your personal information

The integrity, confidentiality, and security of your information is important to us. We have implemented technical, organizational, and physical security measures that are designed to protect your information from unauthorized or fraudulent access, alteration, disclosure, misuse, and other unlawful activities.

We also put in effect the following safeguards:

We keep and protect your information using a secured server behind a firewall, encryption and security controls;
We keep your information only for as long as it is necessary for us to (a) provide the products and services that you avail from us, (b) for our legitimate business purposes, (c) to comply with pertinent laws, and (d) for special cases that will require the exercise or defense of legal claims;
We limit the access to your information only to qualified and authorized personnel who are trained to handle your information with strict confidentiality;
We undergo regular audits and rigorous testing of our infrastructure’s security protocols to ensure your data is always protected;
We promptly notify you and the National Privacy Commission when sensitive personal information that may, under the circumstances, be used to enable identity fraud are reasonably believed to have been acquired by an unauthorized person; and
We let you update your information securely to keep our records accurate.

TV5 will not collect, use, or disclose your personal information for any purpose other than the purpose that you may have given your consent for.

What are your choices?

We make sure that we have your consent to continue to collect, use, and disclose your personal information for the purposes that we have identified. We want you to know that you may object or withdraw your consent and/or edit your consent preferences at any time.

If you wish to have access to the personal information in our custody or if you think that the personal information you provided is incomplete, or otherwise inaccurate, you may get in touch with our Data Protection Officer through the contact details provided below. In some instances, we may request for supporting documents or proof before we effect requested changes.

Data Protection Officer
TV5 Network Inc.
Reliance corner Sheridan Streets
Mandaluyong City
tv5dataprivacy@tv5.com.ph

What happens when there are changes in our Policy?

From time to time, we may update our privacy policy and practices to comply with changes in applicable laws and regulatory requirements, adapt to new technologies and protocols, and align with the best practices of the industry.

You will be provided notices if the changes are significant and, if we are required by law, we will obtain your updated consent.