PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) share their collaborative approach to clamp down on online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) with Asian peers at the recent Telecoms World Asia 2022 conference in Bangkok, Thailand.  

“We need strong partners to battle criminals in cyberspace. Children have become vulnerable to exploitation as they spend more time on the internet. With our capabilities, we can come up with a whole-of-nation approach to protect children and create a safer space online where they can pursue their passions,” said Angel Redoble, FVP and Chief Information Security Officer at PLDT and Smart.  

With child protection ingrained in the corporate culture, PLDT and Smart are at the forefront of keeping children safe online. The PLDT Group’s pioneering Child Protection Platform powered by Palo Alto Networks has blocked more than a billion attempts to open child abuse materials on the more difficult content level. Its alliance with the UK-based Internet Watch Foundation and Project Arachnid of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection has enabled the Group to blacklist more than 500,000 URLs showing OSAEC content.  

PLDT and Smart collaborate with industry peers and government offices including law enforcement agencies to champion child safety both online and offline through collaborative and meaningful initiatives that have lasting impacts on the community.  

The two telcos actively participated in strengthening Republic Act 11930 or the Anti-OSAEC Law. PLDT and Smart pushed for the inclusion of the ‘Good Samaritan’ clause that would empower internet service providers (ISP) to immediately take down offensive materials without being held civilly, criminally or administratively liable.  

PLDT and Smart also work closely with the Department of Justice Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking to boost information campaign especially in hotspot communities, develop local policies that will help authorities arrest perpetrators and increase the ability of communities to fight OSAEC.  

PLDT and Smart have provided connectivity and technical assistance to enable services for the quick reporting of OSAEC cases through a text hotline set up by the PNP Women and Children Protection Center and the IJM.    

These initiatives underscore PLDT and Smart’s long-term commitment to help the country attain UNSDG #16 that promotes just, peaceful and inclusive societies including the end to abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.