Digital Account Ownership and Turnover Act (Proposed)
Explanatory Note
In the digital age, many political aspirants rely on volunteers or hired teams to manage their social media accounts and online campaigns. While this practice is convenient for non-technical candidates, it creates vulnerabilities in ownership and control. There have been reported cases where, after the elections, a candidate was locked out of their own social media account — originally created in their name — because the volunteer in charge changed the password and email credentials without consent.
The Digital Account Ownership and Turnover Act seeks to protect the rightful owner of any social media or digital platform created in connection with their name, likeness, or political candidacy. Any volunteer, campaign staff, or third-party digital handler shall be legally required to turn over full access — including passwords and linked recovery information — upon request by the owner. Refusal to comply shall be deemed an act of unauthorized control over a political identity or public figure’s digital property.
This law recognizes digital platforms as extensions of one’s political identity and intellectual property. Just as campaign posters or official documents cannot be withheld or altered without authorization, the same principle must apply to online spaces bearing a candidate’s name, face, or message. Volunteers and digital aides shall be viewed as temporary stewards — not owners — of any account tied to a candidate’s public service intent.
The law is grounded in the spirit of Republic Act No. 9418 or the Volunteer Act of 2007, which defines volunteerism as a selfless service performed without expectation of material gain. If the digital handler is acting under the assumption of volunteerism, then they have no legal or moral right to assert control over the digital property of the candidate. Upon the owner’s request, turnover must be prompt, complete, and unconditional.
The proposed Act ensures smooth post-election transitions and protects candidates from digital hijacking. It upholds the principle that a political aspirant’s digital identity belongs to them, not to those temporarily entrusted to manage it. Enacting this law will set a precedent for accountability, safeguard reputations, and preserve the integrity of political expression in the digital age.