Lesson 8

Legal, Ethical and Societal Issues in Media and Information Literacy

Learning Objectives:
➢ Define and explain copyright and other related issues.
➢ Distinguish best practices and research-based suggestions to promote netiquette.
➢ Put into action their personal resolve to combat the digital divide, computer addiction, copyright
infringement, and bullying.

Picture Analysis: Editorial Cartoon

1. What issues do you see in the poster?
2. Which ones do you understand? Which ones do you not know?
3. What possible dangers and issues of unguarded use of the internet are depicted in the picture?
4. Which of these issues have happened to you or to your friends? Why did they happen?

Source: Cloud Image of Internet Dangers (Photograph). Retrieved from:

https://www.cyberpatrol.com/assets/cyberpatrol/cybersharks_map.jpg

CYBERCRIME PREVENTION ACT OF 2012 (Republic Act No. 10175)

The cybercrime law covers all other online anomalies such as identity theft, child pornography, data misuse,
cybersquatting, and other computer-related and Internet-facilitated-practices. This law became controversial in
2012 and 2013 since it also criminalizes libel in the online world, limiting certain exercises of freedom of
expression.

Legal, Ethical, and Societal Issues in Media and Information Literacy

1. Plagiarism - an act or instance of using or closely imitating the language and thoughts of another author
without authorization; the representation of that author's work as one's own, as by not crediting the
original author.

2. Copyright - a legal device that gives the creator of a literary, artistic, musical, or other creative work
the sole right to publish and sell that work. Copyright owners have the right to control the reproduction
of their work, including the right to receive payment for that reproduction. An author may grant or sell
those rights to others, including publishers or recording companies.

Media and Information Literacy 1

Lesson 8
Legal, Ethical and Societal Issues in Media and Information Literacy

▪ INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES (Republic Act No. 8293)

– Philippine copyright law protects patents, trademarks and other forms of intellectual property.
The Optical Media Act also protects copyrights or covers media industries or media products
such as music, movies, computer programs and video games.
▪ Violation of a copyright is called infringement.

3. Cyber bullying - bullying that takes place online, or using electronic technology such as cell phones,
computers, and tablets over communication tools including social media sites, text messages, chat, and
websites. Examples of cyber bullying: text messages or emails composed to insult or demean; rumors or
false statements spread by email or posted on social networking sites; and humiliating photos, videos,
websites, or fake profiles deliberately shared across social media.
▪ THE ANTI-BULLYING ACT OF 2013 (Republic Act No. 10627) – This law finds
applicability in school-related bullying, student-student in particular, which covers those uttered
in social media.

4. Computer addiction - the excessive use of computers to the extent that it interferes with daily life. This
excessive use may for example interfere with work or sleep, result in problems with social interaction,
or affect mood, relationships, and thought processes.

5. Digital divide refers to an economic inequality between groups in terms of access to, use of, or
knowledge of ICT. The divide within countries (such as the digital divide in the United States) can refer
to inequalities between individuals, households, businesses, and geographic areas at different
socioeconomic (and other demographic) levels. The Global digital divide designates countries as the
units of analysis and examines the divide between developing and developed countries on an
international scale.

YOU ARE PROTECTED!

▪ ELECTRONIC COMMERCE ACT OF 2000 (Republic Act No. 8792) - The E-commerce Law protects
mostly financial and commercial transactions online. However, it also covers hacking and illegal
downloading of copyrighted materials.

▪ OPTICAL MEDIA ACT OF 2003 (Republic Act No. 9239) – The law ensures the protection of specific
media products subjected to illegal duplication or piracy.

▪ ANTI-CAMCORDING LAW (Republic Act No. 10088) - This law aims to prevent the illegal video
camera recording of movies currently shown in theaters, as evident in the awareness campaigns they
play before each movie in the country.

▪ DATA PRIVACY ACT OF 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173) – This law concerns 21st Century issues
regarding privacy of communication and information. This act covers how we as citizens could or could
not use other people’s information (even from social media sites) or present data in any form.

PROPER NETIQUETTE (Internet Etiquette)

1. Introduce yourself properly. When e-mailing people, sending SMS for the first time, or messaging
them through mobile applications, make sure that you introduce yourself properly, state your intention
of contacting the person and use kind words.

2. Be patient. Do not demand for an instant reply. People may not be connected online all the time. Be
patient and wait for their reply in due time.

3. Acknowledge and reply. When someone sends you an e-mail or a text message and you cannot
immediately reply back, send them a quick note to acknowledge their effort and say that you have
received their message, but will have to reply a later time. Never leave anyone in the “seen zone”.

4. Answer or engage courteously. If you are engaging in a social media post/thread, be courteous and
respectful when commenting. Do not flame or troll them with unkind words. Learn to take criticisms
graciously.

5. Do not over-share personal stuff. Make sure you are not sharing information that should remain
private, for your own safety and security.

Media and Information Literacy 2

Lesson 8
Legal, Ethical and Societal Issues in Media and Information Literacy

6. Be careful in posting incriminating photos or videos of yourself online. Remember that once you
post it on the Internet, it does not go away instantly, even if you delete it. For example, a video you
posted while teasing a person with disability or an LGBT person back in Grade 9 or 10 might become a
basis for you not to get hired in the future. Potential employers sometimes check if you have an
“Internet presence” and Google you. Be careful what you post online.

References:
▪ Cantor, Olivia Linsangan. Media and information Literacy. Quezon City: Vibal Group Inc., 2016.
▪ Pitagan, F., Andres, V. P., Rotor, C., Vilbar, A., Villanueva, C. (2016). Media and Information Literacy-
Teaching Guide. Diliman, Quezon City: Commission on Higher Education. Retrieved from e-mail:
k12@ched.gov.ph

GROUP ACTIVITY: Editorial Reporting

Directions: The learners are divided into groups. Each group will discuss one MIL Issue. (1) Plagiarism /
copyright infringement (2) digital divide, (3) computer addiction and (4) cyber bullying. Reporters will discuss
based on the guide questions given for every article. See attached rubric for benchmarking.

Editorial Reporting Rubric

CRITERIA 4 3 2 1 SCORE
ORGANIZATION Student presents Student presents Audience has Audience cannot
information in information in difficulty following understand
logical, logical sequence presentation presentation
interesting which audience because student because there is
sequence which can follow. jumps around. no sequence of
audience can information.
follow.
COLLABORATION It was evident Most members of Some members Only a few people
that the group did not do
all of the group contributed to the as much work as worked on the
members presentation. others. presentation.
contributed
equally to the
presentation.
CONTENT Presentation had Presentation had Presentation had Presentation
an exceptional a good amount of moments where contained little to
amount of material and valuable material no valuable
valuable material benefited the was present but material.
and was class. as
extremely a whole content
beneficial to the was lacking.
class.
DELIVERY Presenters were Presenters were Presenters were Presenters were
all very confident occasionally not consistent unconfident and
in delivery and confident with with the level of demonstrated
they did an their presentation confidence/ little evidence of
excellent job of however the preparedness planning prior to
engaging the presentation was they showed the presentation.
class. not as engaging classroom but
as had
it could have some strong
been moments.
for the class.
PREPAREDNESS Student is Student seems Student is Student does not
completely pretty prepared somehow seem at all
prepared and has but might have prepared but prepared to
obviously needed more might have present.
rehearsed. rehearsals. needed more
rehearsals.
TOTAL SCORE (20)

Media and Information Literacy 3