MANILA — The government on Tuesday reminded internet service providers such as telecommunications companies, and intermediaries such as social media platforms, of their responsibility against online content that are harmful to children.

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Commemorating “Safer Internet Day”, government and non-government agencies campaigned against Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) so that the internet will be safer for children and the youth sector.
 
National Coordination Center Against OSAEC and CSAEM Executive Director Margarita Magsaysay said among the responsibilities of internet companies is taking down content from the internet.
 
“Kung merong OSAEM o CSAEM activities na nagaganap sa platforms nila, obligasyon nilang i-report within 24 hours sa authorities under penalty of law,” Magsaysay said.

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Magsaysay reported that some platforms are already complying with the provisions of Republic Act No. 11930 or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials.
 
“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,” Magsaysay said.

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Department of Justice (DOJ) Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano noted that the law provides for penalties against companies that violate the law.
 
“We would like to reiterate this reminder, yes there are obligations and if the obligations are not met they are also some penalties that will have to be meted kung itong mga internet intermediaries are not up to par or do not fulfill the obligations that are found in the law,” Clavano said.
 
Clavano also noted that the government is also coordinating with money transfer companies, noting that for as low as P50, exploitation material can be availed in some platforms.
 
“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.
 
Youth advocate Sofia Mae said she has been helping in her community in Mayorga, Leyte in raising awareness against exploitation.
 
“Hindi natin pwede itong balewalain kung hindi sila mag-report agad maaring meron ibang mga bata naman ang hindi makakapag-report hindi malalaman ng gobyerno, ng kanilang parents, ng community na meron palang ganitong krimen na nangyayari online.
 
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Commissioner Beda Epres also reminded parents and guardians of their responsibilities against the exploitation of children.
 
“It’s really the parents na merong malaking role pagdating sa pagbantay ng mga anak, base doon sa aming monitoring sa mga cases, nakakalungkot mang aminin, minsan ang magulang pa ang mismong perpetrators and ang sinasabi nila ito’y bunsod ng kahirapan,” Epres said.
 
Magsaysay noted that from 2020, there are already 16 convictions involving perpetrators of exploitation which went down to 7 in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The numbers however increased again in 2022 to 29 and in 2023, there were 29 convictions.
 
DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Ty also noted that from 21 million online materials in 2020, the number increased to 29 million in 2021.
 
“Therefore, we as a community must be ready to defend our children from dangers that exist both offline and online,” Ty said.