Globe reports sharp rise in blocked child porn sites

Globe Telecom has raised an alarm over a significant increase in detected child pornography sites and URLs, blocking 61% more sites in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

The telecom giant blocked 903 child pornography sites in Q1 2024, up from 559 in Q1 2023. Additionally, the number of blocked URLs surged by more than 51%, from 64,802 in Q1 2023 to 97,951 in Q1 2024.

“The exponential rise in child exploitation sites is a disturbing situation that demands immediate action. As a responsible corporate citizen, Globe is committed to using every resource at our disposal to address this abhorrent crime and safeguard the well-being of our children,” said Irish Salandanan-Almeida, Globe’s Chief Privacy Officer.

Since launching the #MakeITSafePH campaign in 2017, Globe has aligned its operations with the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 (Republic Act 9775), which mandates internet service providers to implement technologies preventing the access and transmission of child pornography. The company has invested over $2.7 million in advanced content filtering systems to combat these illegal activities.

Globe has also established strong partnerships with various government agencies and child protection organizations to enhance its efforts against the online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.

“We cannot turn a blind eye to the exploitation of children. Globe is committed to collaborating with all stakeholders to create a safer online environment for our youth. We urge the public to report any suspected cases of child exploitation to the appropriate authorities,” Almeida emphasized.

The urgency of addressing online child exploitation is underscored by a study from the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which identified the Philippines as a leading source of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) content.

Globe continues to promote digital safety and is proactive in its mission to combat child exploitation, aiming to create a safer digital landscape for all. The company also encourages public vigilance on social media and other platforms where child pornography material is prevalent.