Globe Telecom Inc. yesterday said the number of illegal sites blocked in the first quarter has increased by 67 percent compared to last year, in line with the government’s all-out war against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) in the Philippines.
Globe said it has blocked over 65,000 illegal sites carrying child pornography from January to March 2023, as compared with 38,795 in the same period last year. Additionally, Globe blocked 559 domains hosting such illegal content.
“We understand that the internet can be a dangerous place, especially for children, and we are committed to using our resources to make it safer for all. Our partnerships with various organizations, investment in advanced filtering systems, and educational and awareness campaigns are essential steps in creating a safer online environment. We firmly believe that everyone has a role to play in protecting children’s innocence, and we are dedicated to doing our part,” said Anton Bonifacio, Globe chief information security officer.
In 2022, Globe blocked 399,540 URLs and almost 1,947 domains hosting child pornography, about 18 times the 22,371 web links closed in 2021.
Globe has been clamping down on illegal sites since 2017 via the launch of the #MakeITSafePH campaign. Globe said it has invested $2.7 million in systems that filter content about child pornography, illegal gambling and online piracy. It also educates consumers on rampant cases of OSAEC and how they can protect minors from such risks.
A study led by the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has tagged the Philippines as among the world’s leading sources of content rooted in OSAEC.
Republic Act 9775, or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009, mandates all internet service providers to install technology, programs or software to ensure access to or transmission of child pornography will be blocked or filtered.
