Advocates warn of AI-driven online abuse targeting Filipino children

Child rights advocates have warned of a surge in artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled online abuse targeting Filipino children, as they prepare to convene lawmakers, technology companies, youth leaders, and civil society groups for this year’s Safer Internet Day celebration.

In a joint statement, the Plan International Pilipinas and Consuelo Foundation flagged the rapid proliferation of AI tools capable of generating hyper-realistic images, videos, and voice recordings—technologies that are increasingly being weaponized to exploit, harass, and extort children online.

The groups will host a Safer Internet Day event on February 24, 2026, themed “Beyond the Feed: Safeguarding Girls, Children, and Young People in AI-Driven Digital Spaces.”

AI tools lowering barriers to abuse

According to the organizations, emerging AI applications are being used to create manipulated sexual images, deepfake content, impersonation scams, and more sophisticated grooming tactics that are harder for parents and authorities to detect.

“We are facing a reality where algorithms move faster than our laws, leaving children vulnerable to abuse before we even know the risks exist,” said Pebbles Sanchez-Ogang, Executive Director of Plan International Pilipinas.

Citing studies, the groups said one in two children has experienced some form of online violence, while seven out of ten girls report experiencing online abuse. Perpetrators misuse digital platforms to produce, distribute, and profit from abusive content.

With AI tools lowering the technical barriers to creating altered sexual images and videos, advocates warned that children—particularly girls—face heightened risks of image-based abuse, cyberbullying, impersonation, and online blackmail.

The National Coordinating Center Against OSAEC-CSAEM also noted that reported incidents remain significantly lower than actual cases on the ground, suggesting that many abuses continue to go unreported.

Call for ‘Smart Tech’ and shared responsibility

Sanchez-Ogang stressed that innovation must not outpace safeguards meant to protect children.

“We cannot allow innovation to outpace the safeguards that have protected children for generations. Through the Safer Internet Day Celebration, we are calling for a collective shift—one that strengthens collaboration among government, tech companies, communities, and families. Digital safety is a shared responsibility.

It calls for ‘Smart Tech’ that prioritizes child protection and ‘Smart Choices’ from all of us to create safer online spaces for them,” she said.

The February 24 event aims to move beyond awareness and toward practical solutions. Sessions will examine how emerging technologies can strengthen child protection through improved reporting systems, enhanced built-in safeguards, and tools that equip families and communities to respond to online risks.

Organizers said the celebration will also amplify youth voices, with girl leaders and youth advocates sharing recommendations on how to shape safer digital spaces.

Linking online safety to girls’ rights

The event forms part of Plan International Pilipinas’ #StandWithGirls campaign, a national movement focused on advancing long-term investment in girls’ rights, safety, and leadership.

Founded in 1961, Plan International Pilipinas will mark 65 years of working with children and girls across the Philippines in June. The celebration will also highlight ongoing initiatives such as SAFE Online, SUFASEC, and Connect2Protect, which aim to strengthen digital safety systems.

Echoing the call for stronger safeguards, Dr. Mariella Castillo, managing director of Consuelo Foundation, underscored the real-world impact of online harm.

“What happens on our screens has real-world consequences for our children. ‘Beyond the Feed’ is not just a theme; it is a call to look past the algorithms and see the human cost of unchecked technology. Consuelo Foundation is proud to stand with Plan International Pilipinas to ensure that digital spaces are built to nurture young people, not exploit them,” Castillo said.

As Safer Internet Day approaches, the groups urged stakeholders to commit to long-term action that prioritizes children’s safety in digital spaces.

“Standing with girls means standing firmly against online abuse, through policy, through practice, and in every corner of the internet where children learn, play, and connect,” Sanchez-Ogang added. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News