Bill to regulate Internet deals nears enactment

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

WITH no signs of tough opposition to Senate Bill (SB) 1846, the proposed measure to regulate electronic commerce in the country inches closer to early enactment. This sentiment was expressed by Senator Mark A. Villar, who sees the enactment of SB 1846 as the Internet Transactions Act (ITA) of 2023 as “good news for online shoppers and online sellers.”

“The bill we just defended will protect merchants and consumers against fraudulent practices in Internet transactions,” Villar said. He added they expect the bill, if enacted into law, “will address the pressing need to ensure that Filipinos can harness the benefits of the digital world without compromising their privacy and security.”

Villar envisions that as soon as it is enacted into law, the ITA will “prevent online scams and assure safety of both consumers and merchants engaged in e-commerce.”

The bill also makes digital platforms or e-marketplaces subsidiarily liable with the online merchant or retailer if it failed to perform its responsibilities as laid down in the bill that caused damage to the consumer. This bill also establishes a code of conduct for all businesses involved in ecommerce in order to safeguard and advance consumer interests.

The bill mandates the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to “exercise regulatory jurisdiction over e-marketplaces, e-retailers, online merchants, and other digital platforms that sell or allow the sale of exchange of