Hontiveros seeks crackdown vs misogyny on social media

MANILA, Philippines -  With the increase in sexually explicit groups trawling social media with obscene photos of women and children, Sen. Risa Hontiveros yesterday pushed for the passage of the Anti-Gender-Based Electronic Violence bill, which penalizes violators with up to 10 years in prison.

If Senate Bill 1251 is passed into law, Hontiveros said it could be used to go after those behind Facebook groups such as the “Pastor Hokage Bible Study,” which is being monitored by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate committee on women, family and gender relations, said people engaged in misogynistic and homophobic attacks on social media should be penalized.

The bill defines gender-based electronic violence as “acts involving use of any form of information and communications technology that causes or is likely to cause mental, emotional or psychological distress or suffering to the female victim or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer victim, and tending to disparage the dignity and personhood of the same on account of his or her gender.”

The offenses listed in the bill include harassing or threatening the victim through text messages, posts on social media sites or other cyber, electronic and multimedia means.

Under the bill, Hontiveros said those who post and share obscene photos of women and children on social media would face penalties.

“These people have no right to enjoy our internet freedom only to abuse women and children. We will not allow them to shame  women, suppress their right to express themselves through social media and contribute to a culture of misogyny and hate,” she said.

“We will unmask all these misogynists, prosecute them to the full extent of the law and hold them accountable,” she added.

Under the bill, those found guilty of gender-based electronic violence will face imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines of P100,000 to P500,000.

For the “Pastor Hokage” groups, Hontiveros said “the maximum penalty should be applied given that these acts are repeated, involve multiple women at any given time and may even be profited from.”

“We must put an end to this online locker room talk, which is a manifestation of the culture of misogyny and commodification of women prevalent in the country right now,”she added.