PNP to receive AI programs to help fight vs online child abuse

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is expecting 21 artificial intelligence (AI) programs to aid the government in filtering reports of online sexual child abuse.

Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Wednesday said that the United Arab Emirates will give the country these AI programs to combat online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) and child sexual abuse and exploitation materials (CSAEM).

In a Palace briefing, Abalos explained that the police receive plenty of false or misleading reports; thus, a system that could filter reports would help in their response.

READ: Over 900,00 websites showing online child abuse blocked in 2023 — CWC 

“’Yung mapi-filter at matuturo mo kung saan kaagad ito, at hindi lamang iyon, dapat maano rin natin iyong saan nagbabayad ito ‘no – importante sa lahat iyon kung saan nagbabayad,” said Abalos, referring to those who pay for explicit materials.

(If the reports are filtered and quickly pinpointed where it is taking place, and not just that, we should be able to track where the money is coming from.)

The PNP would encounter reports of online child abuse based on fake accounts, or the reports could also come from outside the Philippines.

According to Abalos, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that appropriate funding will be devoted to fighting cybercrime, which includes OSAEC and CSAEM.

Marcos Jr. has ordered all government agencies to prioritize child welfare in their programs and policies, saying that there should be a centralized system to track and combat OSAEC and CSAEM.