AmCham warns against overly restrictive media-safety laws

THE American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) said the proposed Children’s Safety in Social Media Act must avoid being overly restrictive about information access.

AmCham said that the framework should protect children “while also preserving access to information, encouraging digital innovation, respecting data privacy, and ensuring practical and enforceable compliance standards.”

“Measures that are overly restrictive or technically impractical may unintentionally limit educational opportunities, hinder digital inclusion, and affect investor confidence in the Philippines’ digital economy,” it said in a statement on Monday.

“Thus, the need to carefully craft the provisions of the proposed legislation,” it added.

Several bills aiming to make social media platforms safer for minors have been filed with Congress and are at committee level, including Senate Bill No. 1735 and House Bill No. 7300.

“We believe that child online safety is best achieved through a whole-of-society approach, combining clear platform accountability, strong parental empowerment, digital literacy and education, and sustained public-private collaboration,” AmCham said.

“AmCham stands ready to work with stakeholders to help craft a policy framework that protects children, upholds fundamental rights, and supports a safe, innovative, and competitive digital ecosystem for the Philippines,” it added.

Separately, the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (BCCP) said Philippine business leaders see technology and cybersecurity as pressing concerns.

“While demand for digital talent continues to accelerate, the supply of qualified professionals, especially in cybersecurity, remains limited,” BCCP Executive Vice Chairman Chris Nelson said in a statement.

He said that the challenges faced by business leaders reflect the need to pass the Cybersecurity Act.

“This law would give much greater reassurance and awareness, and also it would establish a cybersecurity college because the other thing you need is trained professionals,” he added.

He also said that the Philippines should leverage its chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to accelerate skills development, strengthen cybersecurity capabilities, and unlock high-value employment opportunities.

“What we will need to do is try to see how ASEAN can create more business opportunities,” he said.

“ASEAN is obviously one of the more dynamic economies around the world, and this is a very good time for the Philippines to take that chairmanship and push it forward,” he added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile