Service providers, online platforms urged to implement safety measures for children

Government officials on Tuesday called on online platforms and service providers to implement measures that would protect children against online sexual abuse and exploitation.

During an event celebrating Safer Internet Day, Justice Undersecretary Nicolas Ty said the implementation of Republic Act 11930 or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act must be strengthened through a collective effort.

“We also enjoin the private sector, particularly internet intermediaries and service providers to leverage their technological expertise to implement safety measures such as age verification systems, robust content moderation filters, and user-friendly mechanisms to prevent further harm to children,” Ty said.

According to Ty, there was a rise in reports of suspected child sexual exploitation materials in the country between 2019 and 2022, with 2021 seeing the highest jump in numbers.

He said that reports increased from 21 million in 2020 to 29 million in 2021. The undersecretary attributed this to the increase in internet usage during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Hence we have to acknowledge that as technology advances, new forms of online abuse and exploitation of children can emerge. And future developments such as artificial intelligence and augmented reality may provide new opportunities for abusers,” Ty said.

Ty said the collaboration of the private sector with law enforcement agencies would allow the government to protect technology while supporting their right to access information and social connections online.

His call was echoed by National Coordination Center (NCC) Against OSAEC and CSAEM Executive Director Margarita Magsaysay, who said that platforms and intermediaries are obligated to take down violative content and to preserve data.

“Sa ilalim ng batas, kung merong mga CSAEM o OSAEC-related activities na nagaganap sa mga platforms nila, obligasyon nila ‘yun mag report within 24 hours sa authorities under penalty of law… para sa mga internet intermediaries ‘yun,” Magsaysay said.

[Under the law, if there are CSAEM or OSAEC-related activities in their platforms, they are obligated to report the same within 24 hours.]

“Sa mga internet service providers naman, iba naman po ang turnaround time nila. Sa kanila naman po ay 48 hours under the law if meron silang suspected OSAEC or CSAEM incidents going on,” she added.

[In the case of internet service providers, they have a different turnaround time. They have to report within 48 hours under the law if they have suspected OSEAC or CSAEM incidents going on.]

According to Magsaysay, some platforms are already complying with the provisions under RA 11930.

“Maganda po ang relasyon namin with Meta so we also hope we want to have that same relationship sa mga ibang search engines, mga social media platforms para po magtulung-tulungan po tayo to combat this.”

[We have a good relationship with Meta so we also hope we want to have that same relationship with other search engines, social media platforms so we can combat this.]

Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano, meanwhile, said that penalties may be given to internet intermediaries if they do not fulfill their obligations under the law.

Sale of materials

Clavano also flagged the sale of child sexual abuse and exploitation materials online, saying that this could go as low as P50 to as high as P15,000.

“As per our research, OSAEC subscriptions to online platforms can go from anywhere between P1,500 to P15,000,” Clavano said.

“There are also other CSAEM platforms na P300 pa lang makakapag access ka na or makakapag subscribe ka na sa mga videos no. And ‘yung sa telegram naman it can go as low as P50,” he added.

He said the government is already coordinating with money-service businesses to address this.

“We just wanted to inform no, the media and the public, na meron na tayong ginagawang consultation and dialogue with money-service businesses na hindi pa actually covered sa Anti-Money Laundering Act,” he said.

COVID-19 pandemic

Meanwhile, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Undersecretary Emmeline Villar said there was a 264% surge in OSAEC cases since the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Villar, 56% of the victims rescued in such cases were usually siblings or cousins.

“Based on a study conducted by the international justice mission, the victim typology is usually, the median age is 11 years old… it can range from below one, meaning an infant. In fact, the youngest that we’ve encountered before when I was in the DOJ was a three-month old baby,” she said.

“Usually when they are rescued, the average of victims rescued is four. So they usually are rescued in groups and 56% of those who are rescued are related. Usually mag pi-pinsan. Mag kakapatid. Because the facilitator… is usually a relative. Parent, aunt, or yung mga kaibigan ng parent,” she added.

For his part, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Commissioner Beda Epres said this was disheartening.

“It’s really the parents na merong malaking role pagdating sa pagbantay nung mga bata. Base doon sa aming monitoring sa mga cases, nakakalungkot mang aminin, pero minsan ang magulang pa ang mismong perpetrators and ang sinasabi nila ito’y bunsod ng kahirapan,” Epres said.

He said that parents and guardians of children must be educated.

“Education talaga ang number one factor. Kailangan i-educate natin ang mga magulang and/or mga guardians nitong mga bata tungkol sa tamang pagkamit and yung negative impact,” he said.

Meanwhile, youth advocate Sofia May said that such reports should not be dismissed.

“Exploitation has no gender. So dapat lahat tayo ay pantay-pantay. Kapag may nag reklamo, solusyonan ito agad. At para naman sa kapwa ko youth… ang mensahe ko naman sa kanila ay be mindful,” she said.

The event was attended by officials of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), the DSWD, the NCC, the CHR, Plan International Pilipinas, and other organizations. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News