PNP seeks court aid to track down sexual predators on social media

(REUTERS/File Photo)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has sought a regional trial court’s permission to acquire information from social media giants Facebook and YouTube about the people behind “Usapang Diskarte” – an online account encouraging child sexual abuse. 

The PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG), led by the Women and Children Cybercrime Protection Unit (WCCPU), on Thursday applied for a warrant to disclose computer data on “Usapang Diskarte” before the Manila Regional Trial Court.  

“The ‘Usapang Diskarte’ pages and accounts are proof of how unsafe the internet is, especially for women and children. These pages, its content, and the conversations within it are inherently violative of the rights of women and children,” the PNP-ACG said.

Senator Risa Hontiveros earlier sounded the alarm on “Usapang Diskarte” for uploading videos on how to seduce children.

She also renewed the call to pass the anti-online sexual abuse of children bill into law, stressing that “our children need the full power and protection of this measure.” 

The “Usapang Diskarte” YouTube account then had 252,000 subscribers before it was taken down last July 15. 

The PNP-ACG assured, however, that Facebook has preserved all information related to the case.  

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