The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (M.T.R.C.B.) wants to monitor and review the entire Netflix library. The board asked the Philippine Senate to allow the regulation of streaming sites for Filipino viewers.
Amid the first modern pandemic, months-long quarantine switched people's entertainment scheme - mostly young adults - to watch on streaming sites such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Iflix, Viu, and others.
The Legal Affairs Division chief of M.T.R.C.B., Jonathan Presquito said that content being shown through Netflix and other streaming devices should be regulated by M.T.R.C.B. Mr. Presquito urged the senate that they have to monitor and take control of the rates of stream platforms.
"Stream services like Netflix are video on-demand platforms. We have to regulate those platforms. We have to ensure that those materials being shown on those platforms are compliant with M.T.R.C.B. laws."
After being criticized, Mr. Presquito argued that other countries like South Korea have been regulating contents shown on Netflix.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon strongly opposed the plan of M.T.R.C.B. to regulate streaming platforms. He called the plan "ridiculous."
Mr. Drilon pointed out a fact that high-quality streaming services such as Netflix should continue self-regulating their content and their plan is very impractical. "I am opposed to it. Instead of regulating Netflix and other streaming platforms, M.T.R.C.B. should continue to allow them and other media to self-regulate content."
It is no doubt that Netflix's self-regulation functionality is much more effective than M.T.R.C.B.'s. Mr. Drilon said that how would the M.T.R.C.B. review and monitor the entire Netflix library, one by one.
The senator noted that Netflix ratings are "very specific," and that upon subscription, parents can control the content that their children can view. This feature is not available on free TV, He added.
Meanwhile, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, called the plan of M.T.R.C.B. as "foolishness" and if they plan to regulate Netflix, then M.T.R.C.B. should be the one to censor every streaming platform in the world.
"Kung ireregulate 'nyo ang Netflix, isama 'nyo na ang HBO, Amazon Prime, iFlix. Kayo na maging censors ng buong mundo. Pero saan kayo kukuha ng budget at sino ang susunod sa inyo?" (If you will regulate Netflix, might as well include HBO, Amazon Prime, iFlix. You should be the censors of the whole world. But where will you get your budget and who will follow you?)
Netflix, is the leading streaming platform across the world based in the United States. It is an American technology and media services provider and production company headquartered in California.
More information about how Netflix was created with a book created by Marc Randolph. Mr. Randolph is one of the co-founders of Netflix that was created in 1997.
The book is titled, "That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea."
