MTRCB chief: Content regulation on Netflix, other streaming platforms only meant ‘post-monitoring’

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) on Friday said it has no intention of stepping over the viewers' rights by regulating the content of video on demand platforms like Netflix.

"The word kasi na regulate they feel we're curtailing their freedom. No. MTRCB is not a censoring board anymore. It's not like before. We go by the times. Hindi siya ibabawal, it's sort of a co-regulation," MTCRB chairperson Rachel Arenas said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

She clarified that what the MTRCB proposes is for the managers of the platform to align their motion picture ratings and classifications to the contemporary values of Filipino viewers.

"Based on our guidelines, you classify, you give your ratings aligned with our rating and then we'll just do post-monitoring," Arenas said.

"It will be a post-monitoring. We're not going to review all their materials before they show it... When we do monitoring and then their classification is not aligned with us, that's the time we're going to call on them," she added.

Arenas said the MTRCB would just like to strengthen the community standards and would be open to the suggestions of the stakeholders.

On Thursday, MTRCB Legal Affairs Division chief Atty. Jonathan Presquito told senators that the agency, by law, has jurisdiction to review and regulate the movies and shows being offered at various video on demand platforms. — RSJ, GMA News