De Lima seeks measures to protect children from harmful Internet materials
By AJ Siytangco
Published Aug 5, 2019 04:13 pm
By Hannah Torregoza
Senator Leila de Lima on Monday sought passage of a measure that would protect Filipino children against exploitative acts and other Internet-based crimes.
With more and more children getting hooked on online activities, de Lima said the younger generation of Filipinos is now vulnerable to abuses.
Senator Leila de Lima
(REUTERS / Romeo Ranoco / MANILA BULLETIN) Thus, a mechanism protecting them from negative and harmful materials on the Internet should be put in place. She said these harmful materials include violent pictures, graphic image files, articles, and any materials designed to entice children to the use of alcohol, drugs and other dangerous substances, among others. “For children especially, the Internet provides unique educational opportunities and even serves as their primary source for research,” de Lima said. “However, the onset of this technology has also brought about a different venue for child predators and perpetrators of crime,” she added. In filing Senate Bill No. 621, de Lima proposes to require commercial establishments and public institutions to use appropriate filtering devices that would restrict children's access to harmful materials on the Internet. In particular, the bill seeks to compel all commercial establishments to restrict access to materials harmful to children by offering filtered Internet service using end-user or PC-based filtering software or any such other filtering device to all Internet users. All other offices, companies, establishments or public institutions offering Internet services or access, such as private or public schools, libraries, restaurants and internet cafes, are likewise, required to use filtering device that are appropriate for blocking webpages that contain materials harmful to children. Citing data from the National Baseline Survey on Violence Against Children, de Lima said nearly one in two Filipino children aged 13 to 17 experienced cyber violence. “These are alarming figures that should put both the State and our society on notice with the imperative to increase protection to the most vulnerable members of our society – the children,” she said. Under the law, all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and licensed commercial establishment owners would be mandated to report suspected and actual operation of website containing online materials that are harmful to children to the Online Child Safety Council established under this Act, or to the nearest law enforcement office. The proposed Online Child Safety Council, which will be created under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), will serve as the primary agency responsible for the implementation of the bill once it is enacted into law.
Senator Leila de Lima(REUTERS / Romeo Ranoco / MANILA BULLETIN) Thus, a mechanism protecting them from negative and harmful materials on the Internet should be put in place. She said these harmful materials include violent pictures, graphic image files, articles, and any materials designed to entice children to the use of alcohol, drugs and other dangerous substances, among others. “For children especially, the Internet provides unique educational opportunities and even serves as their primary source for research,” de Lima said. “However, the onset of this technology has also brought about a different venue for child predators and perpetrators of crime,” she added. In filing Senate Bill No. 621, de Lima proposes to require commercial establishments and public institutions to use appropriate filtering devices that would restrict children's access to harmful materials on the Internet. In particular, the bill seeks to compel all commercial establishments to restrict access to materials harmful to children by offering filtered Internet service using end-user or PC-based filtering software or any such other filtering device to all Internet users. All other offices, companies, establishments or public institutions offering Internet services or access, such as private or public schools, libraries, restaurants and internet cafes, are likewise, required to use filtering device that are appropriate for blocking webpages that contain materials harmful to children. Citing data from the National Baseline Survey on Violence Against Children, de Lima said nearly one in two Filipino children aged 13 to 17 experienced cyber violence. “These are alarming figures that should put both the State and our society on notice with the imperative to increase protection to the most vulnerable members of our society – the children,” she said. Under the law, all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and licensed commercial establishment owners would be mandated to report suspected and actual operation of website containing online materials that are harmful to children to the Online Child Safety Council established under this Act, or to the nearest law enforcement office. The proposed Online Child Safety Council, which will be created under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), will serve as the primary agency responsible for the implementation of the bill once it is enacted into law.