MANILA – Cavite 2nd District Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla is advocating for the passage of House Bill 7300, or the Social Media Accountability Act, which seeks to establish a government-backed oversight body to ensure social media platforms operate responsibly, transparently, and safely.

The proposed Social Media Accountability Council (SMAC), to be attached to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), would set safety standards, review platform practices, and enforce compliance with national rules on digital safety and user protection.

The council would include representatives from the DICT, National Privacy Commission, Department of Health, Department of Justice, Department of Trade and Industry, as well as experts from the academe and civil society groups focused on digital safety and child protection.

SMAC would have the authority to investigate violations, order corrective actions, and impose administrative penalties. Sanctions could include fines of up to PHP10 million per violation and orders to modify, suspend, or disable harmful platform features.

“Every day, social media algorithms shape what Filipino families see and experience online, from the news that appears on their feeds to the videos recommended to their children. When left unchecked, these systems can cause real harm, particularly to children and other vulnerable users,” Mercado-Revilla said.

She added, “This measure is not about policing opinions. It is about accountability, making sure that digital systems do not put profit ahead of people, and that users are informed, protected, and empowered. It seeks balance: protecting free expression while ensuring responsibility, safety, and fairness in the digital space.”