Lacson pushes National ID as primary age check for social media users

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has proposed using the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), or National ID, as the primary basis for verifying the age of social media platform users, as lawmakers consider measures aimed at protecting minors online.

Lacson, principal author of Senate Bill No. 2424 or the proposed Child Online Safety and Protection Act, said the use of the National ID could simplify the verification process and avoid complications that could arise from other age-assurance methods.

“Let’s simplify the process and use the National ID. During the period of amendments, I will propose that we use the National ID or a backup ID be made a required and documented basis for access to social media platforms,” Lacson said during the interpellation of the bill sponsored by Sen. Robinhood “Robin” Padilla.

Padilla expressed openness to the proposal, saying he would consider Lacson’s suggested amendments.

Lacson argued that the government could reverse the verification process by requiring the National ID as the primary basis while allowing social media platforms to use other methods they deem appropriate.

“But the National ID should come first because every Filipino is assigned a National ID number at birth. It is more accurate and recognized under Philippine law,” Lacson said.

The senator sponsored the law that created the Philippine Identification System under Republic Act No. 11055, which establishes a single, unified national identification system for Filipino citizens and resident aliens.

Lacson cited a Philippine Statistics Authority report indicating that National ID registration had already covered about 96 percent of the population and was continuing to expand.

Under Senate Bill No. 2424, minors below 16 years old would be barred from registering on social media platforms, while those aged 16 to below 18 would be allowed to use them subject to age-assurance requirements and child-safety protocols.

Lacson, however, raised concerns about some of the age-verification methods currently contemplated under the bill, including self-declaration of age, third-party age determination and artificial intelligence-based age estimation.

He said these approaches could involve technical limitations and gray areas that could make the proposed restrictions difficult to enforce.

“If we allow discretion, we will allow loopholes that could be used to circumvent the implementation of this law,” Lacson said.

The senator also proposed maintaining restrictions throughout ages 16 and 17, while introducing structured social media and digital literacy education as part of the senior high school curriculum.

Lacson said this approach could provide greater consistency throughout the age of minority while allowing students to learn about responsible social media use before reaching unrestricted access at age 18.

He also proposed that Filipinos below 18 should not have access to online platforms without proper supervision in schools and at home.

“Instead of age restriction, we should remove unsupervised access,” he said.

Lacson likewise called for a more active role for the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), including quasi-judicial authority to determine liability and impose administrative penalties against violators.

The proposals remain subject to the Senate’s legislative process and possible amendments as deliberations on the Child Online Safety and Protection Act continue.