Ched Rick Gatchalian

Article (news)

Bill amending Safe Spaces Act to address AI passed on final reading in Senate

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- To address gender-based online sexual harassment brought about by emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Senate passed on third and final reading Senate Bill 2897 or an Act amending Republic Act 11313, otherwise known as the “Safe Spaces Act.” </p><p>The votes were 23 affirmative, 0 negative and 0 abstention.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/3/gabriela-seeks-probe-on-ai-enabled-violence-against-women-1737">Gabriela seeks probe on AI-enabled violence against women</a> </div><p>Gender-based online sexual harassment, according to the bill, includes “terrorizing and intimidating victims through physical, psychological, and emotional threats, unwanted sexual, misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic, and sexist remarks and comments online, whether publicly or through direct and private messages,” and “invasion of victim’s privacy through cyberstalking and incessant messaging, uploading, and sharing without the consent of the victim”. </p><p>The term “public spaces” was also updated to include urban or rural areas along with public parks, schools, fields and farms, coastal areas and multi-purpose halls.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/5/26/over-300-million-children-a-year-face-sexual-abuse-online-study-713">Over 300 million children a year face sexual abuse online: study</a> </div><p>The predatory act “grooming” was added to the list of violations. This is defined in the bill as “an act or pattern of acts of establishing a relationship of trust or emotional connection by a person with a child or someone who is believed to be a child, and/or the child’s family, guardian, or caregivers, whether in person or via electronic and other similar devices, for the purpose of perpetrating sexual abuse or exploitation.” </p><p>Internet intermediaries are directed to “immediately block access to, remove, or take down the internet address, uniform resource locator, website, or any content thereof” which will violate the Act, “within twenty-four (24) hours from receipt of notice from a competent authority: provided, that the intermediaries shall preserve all subscribers or registration information and traffic data in its control and possession for a period of six (6) months from the date of the transaction, extendible for another six (6) months or during the pendency of the case.” </p><p>Senator Grace Poe hailed the passage of the bill, saying it improves the Safe Spaces Act.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/15/senate-panel-discusses-how-to-strengthen-safe-spaces-law-amid-muhlach-case-1511">Senate panel discusses how to strengthen Safe Spaces law amid Muhlach case</a> </div><p>“It helps ensure that sexual harassment does not occur in environments where individuals expect respect such as public spaces, work places, educational settings  or online platforms. And although we know that no amount of penalty may be sufficient to give justice to the victims, we hope that the increased penalties will actually deter more crimes of this nature to happen and that the penalties will be commensurate with the severity of the harm it inflicts on its victims,” Poe said in her manifestation. </p><p>Offenders may face imprisonment of not less than one month nor more than 6 months or a fine not less than P10,000 but not exceeding P100,000 or both.</p>

<p>To address gender-based online sexual harassment brought about by emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Senate passed on third and final reading Senate Bill 2897 or an Act amending Republic Act 11313, otherwise known as the “Safe Spaces Act”.</p>

To address gender-based online sexual harassment brought about by emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Senate passed on third and final reading Senate Bill 2897 or an Act amending Republic Act 11313, otherwise known as the “Safe Spaces Act”.