Senate OKs bill vs online child sexual abuse

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MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Thursday approved on third and final reading a measure seeking to boost the protection of children against online sexual abuse and exploitation.

Twenty-three senators voted in favor of Senate Bill No. 2209 or the proposed Special Protections against Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) Law.

“Ang ating mga anak, ang ating mga bata ang puso ng panukalang batas na ito. Sila ang nagbibigay inspirasyon at pag-asa sa ating lipunan,” Senator Risa Hontiveros, sponsor of the bill, said.

(Our children, our youth are at the heart of this proposed law. They are the source of inspiration and hope in our society.)

Hontiveros also expressed hope for the immediate passage of the bill’s counterpart measure in the House of Representatives.

“Umaasa po ako na mapabilis din ang pagpasa nito sa Kamara para tuluyang maprotektahan ang dignidad, pangarap at kinabukasan ng ating kabataan,’ she said.

(I’m hoping that the House will immediately pass their own version of the bill so that we can really protect the dignity, dreams, and future of the youth.)

Under the measure, law enforcers are given “additional tools” to pursue perpetrators of OSAEC, “especially those who are hiding under the veil of anonymity provided by online platforms.”

It also imposes additional duties on internet intermediaries, including social media platforms, such as the blocking and removal of child sexual abuse or exploitation material within 24 hours from receipt of the notice, preservation of evidence in their possession, and development and adoption of systems and procedures for preventing, blocking, detecting and reporting of OSAEC cases.

Convicted perpetrators of OSAEC or similar or equivalent crimes in other jurisdictions, as well as foreign nationals being monitored by Philippine law enforcement authorities for conducting OSAEC activities, will be banned from entering the Philippines if the bill is enacted into law.

EDV