The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is requesting written comments and inputs on a proposed department circular on the mandatory identity verification of user accounts on social media platforms.
The circular is intended to “establish accountability in cyberspace by ensuring that every social media account accessible in the Philippines is attributable to a verifiable juridical entity or natural person, thereby deterring malicious actors from hiding behind total anonymity to commit crimes.”
It also aims to “serve as a mechanism for law enforcement to identify perpetrators subject to due process, thereby suppressing the proliferation of computer-related offenses, including but not limited to online scams, phishing, computer-related identity theft, cyber libel, and online sexual abuse and exploitation of children,” and to “protect the integrity of public discourse by strengthening the process of verification of social media accounts, consequently identifying and deactivating fraudulent and automated accounts designed to manipulate public opinion and destabilize national security.”
If it takes effect, the circular will apply to all social media platforms operating in the Philippines, with or without a local physical office.
The draft circular defines social media platforms as “forms of electronic communications, including websites and applications, that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking.”
Social media platforms covered by the circular are directed to implement a “Mandatory Account Verification System” at no cost to account users and to “ensure that all social media accounts are verified to a legal identity.”
Users will be permitted to maintain multiple social media accounts, provided that all profiles are linked to verified legal entities.
Social media platforms will be required to implement the following:
- Multi-factor authentication
- End-to-end encryption of verification data, whether at rest or in transit
- Generation of unique digital tokens to mark verified accounts
- Annual security audits to ensure that unauthorized access to identity databases does not occur
- Verification of accounts of minors through parents or legal guardians
Local registered subscriber identity module (SIM) numbers will be used for verification.
The circular acknowledges the right to pseudonymity, and verification will not require the public display of users’ legal names. Users will retain the right to use pseudonyms, handles, or aliases on their public profiles.
In a policy consultation held online and live-streamed on Thursday, Jan. 22, the DICT’s National ICT Planning, Policy and Standards Bureau officer-in-charge Gemma Baysic of the stated that stakeholders can submit comments on the draft department circular until January 28, 2026.
Written comments, inputs, and position papers on the department circular can be sent to [email protected] or [email protected]. The full draft department circular as of January 21, 2026 may be viewed here.
