One leaked video of the gold medalist tore through the illusion of civility, exposing just how easily cruelty has become entertainment.
What should have triggered outrage and protection quickly turned into a hunt for copies. Instead of asking how the person involved was harmed, people asked for links. They commented “PM me,” “send,” and “curious lang.” That reaction alone proves the problem is bigger than a single incident—it is a culture that treats violations as content.
According to the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, reported cases of photo and video voyeurism increased by nearly 20 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year. While some cybercrime categories declined, violations involving non-consensual images continued to rise. This means the abuse is not slowing down—it is becoming more common, casual, and tolerated.
And yet people still pretend this is rare or, worse, harmless. Let us be clear: this is not curiosity. This is participation.
Republic Act No. 9995, the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act, not only punishes the person who recorded the video. It also punishes anyone who copies, saves, shares, sells, or privately sends it. Consent to record does not mean consent to distribute. Once the video is shared without permission, a crime has already been committed. Still, many people act shocked when told they are part of the violation.
This reaction shows something deeply disturbing about our online culture. We are so used to consuming scandals that we forget there is a real person at the center of the issue. We scroll, react, and share without thinking about the damage we cause. We act as if being online exempts us from responsibility. As if screens erase accountability.
They do not.
Being viral does not exempt the law. Being a public figure does not erase the right to privacy. Achievements, titles, or medals do not make someone less human. If anything, the obsession with this issue proves how normalized harassment and objectification have become. We pretend to be shocked by the crime, yet we eagerly help spread it.
That hypocrisy is infuriating.
If we are serious about justice, outrage alone is weak. Silence is complicity. Clicking ‘share’ is not harmless—it is a choice to betray. The law does not vanish because the internet moves fast, and neither does the harm you spread with your fingers.
At the end of the day, this issue is not only about one video. It is about who we choose to be online. Whether we protect dignity or help destroy it. Whether we stand by the law or help violate it for entertainment.
The law is clear. The data is clear. The harm is real.
If we still choose to look away, or worse, ask for a copy, then the problem is no longer just the crime. The problem is us.
Written by Vox, Insight PH
Vox, Insight PH is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.
