OFFICIALS slammed the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) proposal to regulate content shown on Netflix and other video streaming applications, saying it is “impractical” and “embarassing” for the board to gatekeep content.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., in a Twitter post, said the MTRCB’s appeal displays “ignorance.”
“Enough na with idiot regulation. If it is on Netflix, the whole world is watching the show and it is tuned to general patronage. Enough already with displaying ignorance, it is embarassing,” he said.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon also criticized the MTRCB’s plan, saying streaming platforms already “self-regulate” their content.
"I am opposed to it. Instead of regulating Netflix and other streaming platforms, MTRCB should continue to allow them and other media to self-regulate content," Drilon said.
"It's very impractical. There are thousands of shows on Netflix alone - how will MTRCB review each one? Can the MTRCB review every single content that can be accessed through the internet? What will they do about virtual private networks that allow users to access content from other countries? If they insist on it, then taxpayers will be paying MTRCB only to stream movies and shows 24/7, 365 days," he added.
According to Drilon, MTRCB was a “martial law creation” institutionalized for censorship.
He added that the monitoring board was not able to “evolve and rise above its martial law origins.”
Drilon stressed that Netflix has self-regulation mechanisms that are “more effective” than the regulation or classification on television.
Netflix classifies shows based on whether these are for General Patronage, Parental Guidance, 7 and above, 16 and up, and R-18.
“The ratings are very specific. Upon subscription to Netflix, the parents can set what content their children can view. It has mechanisms that limit children's access - a feature that free TV does not have,” he said.
"If the platform can effectively self-regulate and has installed features through which access, particularly by certain age groups can be limited, then there is no role left for the MTRCB to play", he added.
For House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, the proposal is "mind-boggling" and "ridiculous."
"This is the kind of bureaucratic thinking that gives government workers a bad name. Ang daming problems ng mga kababayan natin, tapos ito and gustong unahin ng MTRCB?" he said.
"If they really want to be relevant at this time, sana and iniisip is kung paano makakatulong sa pagpapa-improve ng industriya dahil napag-iiwanan an tayo ng ating mga Asian neighbors," he added.
The lawmaker said MTRCB has no jurisdiction over Netflix and other online streaming applications.
"What makes this even more mind-boggling is that, in the first place, wala naman sa jurisdiction ng MTRCB ang Netflix and other online content," he said.
During the joint Senate hearing on Senate Bill (SB) no. 1591, or the proposed Internet Transactions Act Thursday, September 3, MTRCB legal affairs division chief Jonathan Presquito claimed that MTRCB has jurisdiction of content shown on Netflix and other video-on-demand streaming platforms.
“The internet is just a medium. Just because sa internet siya pinalabas, hindi na siya covered ng MTRCB law,” he said. (SunStar Philippines)