47 ISPs asked to explain failure to block online child porn as Philippines becomes global hotspot

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has issued a show-cause order against 47 internet service providers (ISP), including those run by big companies, for failing to block online child pornography.

According to Jun Veneracion’s report on “24 Oras,” the Commission will determine if the ISP has installed a blocking or filtering software to combat online child exploitation.

ISPs without the blocking software will then be fined.

“P200 a day at a maximum of P200 a day per day of violation, meaning per day of not installing that blocking or filtering software,” NTC legal branch chief Ella Lopez said.

ISPs may also be charged under Republic Act 9795 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act. They may also be ordered to stop operations.

“There’s na magkakaroon ng [cancelation] po sa registration nila as an ISP,” Lopez said.

Meanwhile, 22 children—some so young they had to be carried by the authorities arms—were rescued by the PNP Women and Children Protection Center in three separate operations in Pampanga and Tarlac, according to a report by Raffy Tima.

A study by the group International Justice Mission found that the Philippines was the largest known source of online sexual exploitation of children from 2010 to 2017, based on information from various global law enforcement agencies.

“The Philippines received more than eight times as many referrals as any other country identified by the global law enforcement case data,” the report, released in 2020, read.

For the period from 2010 to 2017, four global law enforcement agencies identified seven source countries for online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC). During that time, the number of OSEC cases referred to each country is as follows: 

• Cambodia: 3
• Romania: 4
• Thailand: 5
• India: 18
• Brazil: 19
• Mexico: 27
• Philippines: 237

“Compared to other countries, tayo ay global hotspot ng problemang ito,” lawyer Reynaldo Bicol Jr. of the International Justice Mission said. — Joahna Lei Casilao/BM, GMA News