Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) Chairman and CEO Lala Sotto-Antonio has stressed the ethical obligations of content creators and the Board’s focus on child protection and ‘Responsableng Panonood’ amid the rapidly evolving media landscape.
Speaking at the 2024 Annual Conference of the International Institute of Communication (IIC) in Bangkok, Sotto-Antonio said that “freedom comes with great responsibility” and warned against the potential harm in creating content that could endanger young viewers.
“We want to ensure that the rights of people in the Philippines are protected and not violated,” Sotto-Antonio said. “We value child protection, and we are very much concerned about critical content that children might be exposed to.”
“The freedom that we enjoy today comes with great responsibility. We understand the competition is high in this fast-evolving industry, but we must exercise our freedom with a deep respect for the fundamental rights of each and every person,” Sotto-Antonio said during the event attended by global regulators, policy makers, and digital and creative economy stakeholders.
The MTRCB, upon the invitation of the IIC, represented the Philippines at the International Regulators Forum and 55th IIC Conference in Bangkok, Thailand.
Joining Sotto-Antonio were Board Members Eloisa Matias and Dr. Lillian Ng-Gui, and MTRCB Chief of Legal Affairs Division, attorney Anna Mindalano.
The MTRCB delegates actively engaged in discussions on the latest advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital platform policies, low-earth orbit satellite technology and digital governance.
“Platform holders must embrace full responsibility and accountability for their own platforms and content,” said Sotto-Antonio. “They should integrate, as I learned from AVIA, a ‘safety by design approach,’ and ensure that content platforms should include mechanisms that enhance user protection.”
Sotto-Antonio said that the MTRCB is working on a feedback system to enhance accountability in the Philippines. To adapt to the rapidly-evolving media landscape, the MTRCB is actively pursuing an amendment to its 1986 Charter to include jurisdiction over digital streaming services.
“To date, online content, which is largely unregulated, has become increasingly popular in the Philippines,” Sotto-Antonio said.
The amendment would grant the MTRCB authority over online content, allowing it to apply the same ratings system, from “G” for general audiences to “X” for adult-only content for movies and television shows.
Sotto-Antonio emphasized, though, that the MTRCB’s primary mission is not to censor but to carefully strike a balance between freedom of expression and public welfare.
“We have an X classification reserved for cases where it is truly warranted,” Sotto-Antonio said. “However, our primary ratings — G, PG, R13, R16, and R18 — are applied as consistently as possible, guided by the standards set forth in the Presidential Decree of 1986.”
The ratings, Sotto-Antonio said, aim to guide viewers responsibly and to safeguard children from harmful content.
Sotto-Antonio said regulators from other countries have taken strong interest in the MTRCB’s Responsableng Panonood program, with some considering adopting a similar initiative.
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