Mc Richard Paglicawan
Senator Raffy Tulfo has urged the establishment of a national organization tasked with regulating the content produced by vloggers, aiming to address the growing concern of fake news proliferation in the Philippines.
During a hearing held by the Senate Committee on Labor Employment and Human Resources Development, Tulfo, a former figure in the media industry, emphasized the necessity for greater accountability among vloggers.
Tulfo acknowledged that traditional media outlets, such as television stations, radio stations, and newspapers, typically uphold strict editorial standards owing to the oversight provided by their superiors.
Consequently, these traditional outlets are less likely to disseminate false or misleading information to the public. However, Tulfo expressed concerns about independent vloggers who operate without any employer or company oversight, potentially becoming sources of inaccurate or fabricated news.
He underscored that, although many independent vloggers conscientiously adhere to responsible content creation practices and ethical guidelines, there are instances where some vloggers deviate from these principles, releasing content that may be misleading or harmful without due consideration of the consequences.
In response to these concerns, Tulfo proposed the establishment of an organization for vloggers, similar in structure to the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas. The envisioned organization’s primary objective would be to promote responsible reporting and content creation within the vlogging community.
“I don’t know if this needs legislation na magkaron ng ‘Kapisanan ng mga Vloggers sa Pilipinas’ or something to that effect na para magkakaroon ng policing…among their ranks na para maging responsable na sila, that they should be recognized by the government,” Tulfo suggested. “Marami nga diyan na mga vloggers na sumusunod sa code of ethics, sa tamang pamamaraan na para ilabas mo ‘yung mga storya mo sa social media. Pero meron pa rin talaga diyan mga guerilla, na talaga ‘pag umupak, upak lang, without thinking of the consequences because walang nagre-regulate sa kanila and then bahala na kapag ide-demanda o hindi.”
Tulfo also emphasized that while many vloggers adhere to a code of ethics and responsible reporting practices, there are a few who operate as “guerilla” vloggers, disregarding these principles and potentially facing legal repercussions.
As a vlogger himself, Raffy Tulfo has utilized his platform to advocate for marginalized individuals, hold those in positions of power accountable for their actions, and educate the public on pressing social issues. His call for regulation within the vlogging community underscores the significance of responsible journalism and content creation in an era marked by the rapid dissemination of information through digital media.
