PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communication Inc. have started to test a groundbreaking cybersecurity tool that will curb the spread of child abuse materials.
PLDT said the Global Chain of Trust (GCOT) aims to provide members and their stakeholders a “clean” digital environment and block from the network domains that store and publish child abuse material.
“Tests have shown that we can alienate from the network websites that store, publish, and stream child sexual exploitation materials or CSEM. Because the project is scalable, the more countries we bring into GCOT, the safer it will be for internet users,” said Angel Redoble, PLDT Group chief information security officer.
The GCOT promises a cleaner, safer, and more resilient digital ecosystem. It pools peers and industry stakeholders in a closed loop that allows them to create and share a whitelist of legitimate domains, and consequently, blacklist those that contain content that are harmful to children.
“GCOT members enroll locally verified and trusted domains that will be accessible to fellow members. Currently, ISPs blindly ingest domain registries including those with malicious files,” said Redoble.
PLDT and Smart have been developing more innovative and collaborative approaches to the problem of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children .
