Hontiveros eyes incentives to companies helping fight online sexual abuse of kids

Sen. Risa Hontiveros. File photo / Screen grab from Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros is mulling incentives to private companies assisting law enforcement authorities in clamping down on online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC).

“The private sectors’ products are the main channels through which exploitation occurs. Kung magkakaroon ng mas take-charge attitude ang mga kumpanya dahil sa [If companies there would be a more take-charge attitude because of] incentives, then we should study this possibility,” Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, said in a statement.

“Laking tulong ito sa mga opisyal natin [This would be of big help to our officials]. When it comes to a crime as stealthy and as technical as OSAEC, our law enforcement agencies need all the help they can get,” she added.

Hontiveros stressed the need for companies to be proactive in cracking down on OSAEC materials.

“Providing incentives may be the most effective way to ensure this. May karampatang parusa pa rin kung hindi sila susunod sa batas [There will still be penalties imposed if they would not comply],” she said.

The senator recently filed Senate Bill No. 2068, otherwise known as the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Law, which imposes penalties on private companies that do not comply with their obligations under the bill.

Under the bill, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) would face a penalty of up to P5 million while social media networks that are not compliant with the requirements will suffer a penalty of up to P10 million should they fail to give notice of OSAEC content on their services to authorities.

Meanwhile, banks, money services, and other financial intermediaries not fulfilling their reportorial obligation will also face penalties under the bill.

“Both incentives and penalties can encourage more synergy between private companies and government agencies,” Hontiveros went on.

“Pwedeng mapaigting ang partisipasyon ng mga pribadong kumpanya kung hindi lang parusa ang prinepresenta sa kanila,” she added.

(The participation of private companies could be strengthened if penalties are not the only thing presented to them.)

Hontiveros’ committee is currently conducting a hearing on Tuesday tackling anti-OSAEC bills, which the senator hopes she can endorse in plenary before Congress adjourns late March.

“Oppressors of women and children now have access to new technologies and new platforms to perpetrate abuse,” she said during the hearing.

“We are currently in the process of fine-tuning both the anti-trafficking in person bill and the online sexual abuse and exploitation of children. The discussions on these bills are making substantial progress,” she added.

JPV