Lawmaker seeks to ban 'unnecessary exposure' of accident, suicide victims

MANILA, Philippines — A House lawmaker has filed a bill seeking to clamp down on social media users who share without permission photos or videos of victims of crimes or accidents, including suicide incidents.

House Bill 10277, filed on Tuesday by Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo (Camiguin), makes it illegal to share without consent "the image, video or details of a person who is a victim of any crime or accident, or of any person who has committed suicide."

The measure allows “duly franchised and authorized" television and radio networks and “duly licensed" print media to share images and videos of victims, but it draws the line at "social media journalists" who must first obtain the consent of the victim or their family.

Commentators and other content creators must also first secure consent before publication.

Current Philippine laws do not ban the posting of pictures or videos of people without their consent, but Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act contains provisions that prohibit the posting of pictures that are considered online harassment or libel.

Romualdo said he filed the proposed Victims' Privacy Protection Act due to "ease with which content can be shared on social media" and their corresponding privacy concerns, "especially for individuals in sensitive situations."

The lawmaker said that the unauthorized sharing of information about victims "not only violates the privacy and dignity of the individuals depicted, but can also cause undue stress to their families."

Romualdo cited a law enacted in the state of New Jersey in the United States that bans first responders from taking and sharing photographs of victims at emergency scenes.  

The lawmaker said that the bill he filed "aligns with the general principles of foreign laws" while considering the legal context of the Philippines.

He added that Republic Act No. 10173, or the Data Privacy Act of 2012, sets standards for protecting personal information, and his proposed law “reinforces those standards by addressing a specific category of privacy breaches.”

Romualdo said the bill provides for a clear legal protection to victims that “is vital in upholding human dignity and ensuring that the rights of the most vulnerable are not overlooked in the digital age.” — Cristina Chi