DOJ to online service providers: Fortify drive vs predators

(REUTERS / file photo)

MANILA, Philippines – Social media platforms (SMPs), internet service providers (ISPs) and money service businesses (MSBs) should take an active role and join the government’s fight against online predators, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Tuesday.

DOJ Spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano said online predators are now using MSBs like online wallets for online sexual abuse and exploitation of children and to get their hands on child sexual abuse or exploitation materials (CSAEM).

Clavano said these materials cost as low as P50.

“There are also CSAEM platforms na P300 pa lang makakapagsubscribe ka na sa mga videos. ‘Yung sa Telegram naman it can go as low as P50,” Clavano said in a press briefing on the occasion of Safer Internet Day.

[There are platforms where you can get CSAEM videos by paying subscription cost of P300. In the online messaging application Telegram, you can go as low as P50.]

He said the predators now skip financial institutions as they can already utilize service businesses like online wallets to subscribe.

“Sa unang tingin hindi mo mapapansin na para sa OSAEC or CSAEM. Sa unang tingin parang nagta-transfer ka lang ng pambayad sa pamasahe o sa pagkain pero ‘yun meron ng underlying na crime,” Clavano said.

[At first glance, the money transfers being made seem like for fare or for food, but there is already an underlying crime.]

He said the government has started consultation with money transfer businesses.

He also reminded social media platforms and internet mediaries of their duties under Republic Act 11930, also known as the Anti-OSAEC and Anti-CSAEM Act.

“We would like to reiterate this reminder that yes there are obligations If the obligations are not met there are also some penalties that would have to be meted kung itong mga internet intermediaries are not up to par or do not fulfill the obligations propound in the law,” Clavano said.

The NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM is a sub-structure of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), which is chaired by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, with DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty serving as Undersecretary-in-Charge.

Last year, Remulla warned ISPs that if they refuse to cooperate in tracking down sex offenders,, particularly of minors, the government may go after and sue them.

 Remulla said that ISPs should carry out their obligations under Republic Act 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009, requiring them to install software that will block access to or transmittal of any form of child pornography on the internet.

The said law also requires ISPs to notify authorities within seven days from discovery that any form of child pornography is being committed using their servers or facilities.