2. Internet Transactions Act (RA 11967)

Internet Transactions Act of 2023 (Republic Act No. 11967)

Republic Act No. 11967 is officially known as the "Internet Transactions Act of 2023"¹. It establishes the policy of the State to foster a robust electronic commerce (e-commerce) environment by cultivating trust between online merchants and consumers, recognizing the digital economy's potential to enhance productivity and bolster competition². To achieve this, the State ensures the effective regulation of e-commerce to protect consumer rights and data privacy, stimulate innovation, secure internet transactions, defend intellectual property rights, mandate compliance with product standards and safety, and advance environmental sustainability².

The provisions of the Act apply to all business-to-business and business-to-consumer internet transactions falling within the mandate of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), provided that at least one of the parties is situated in the Philippines, or the digital platform, e-retailer, or online merchant avails itself of the Philippine market and maintains minimum contacts within the country³. Conversely, the Act expressly excludes consumer-to-consumer (C2C) transactions and online media content from its coverage³.