Manila: The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has approved new guidelines governing the live streaming of its proceedings. The rules, announced on Friday, outline the conditions under which the proceedings can be broadcast, including measures to protect the privacy and integrity of the information presented.

According to Philippines News Agency, the guidelines permit the ICI to implement various measures such as pixelizing images of witnesses or resource persons, muting audio output, and redacting documents when deemed necessary to comply with existing laws. These steps are aimed at safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring that legal standards are upheld during broadcasts.

To prevent interference with the ongoing proceedings, the guidelines specify that broadcasts or live streams must not include voice-overs. However, brief annotations explaining scenes at the beginning or end are permitted, provided they do not distort the content or context. The ICI emphasized that any repeat airing of the proceedings' recordings or streams requires prior written approval, except for short clips, still images, or cartographic sketches used for news reporting.

The ICI retains the right to delay or terminate live streaming if a potential violation of laws, rules, or jurisprudence is identified. Unauthorized recording, streaming, retransmitting, reproducing, capturing, or editing of the proceedings is strictly prohibited unless prior written consent is obtained from the ICI.

The newly approved rules, which will take effect following their publication, also authorize the ICI to initiate administrative or criminal actions against individuals or entities found to be in violation of the live streaming guidelines.