Sen. Risa Hontiveros (Courtesy: Voltaire Domingo/Senate Social Media Unit)
The Senate approved on third and final reading Monday a measure strengthening protections for children against online abuse, exploitation and recruitment for violent acts.
Voting 17-0-0, senators passed Senate Bill No. 1819, or the Safeguarding Against Grooming, Inducement and Predation, and Building Accountability for Technology-Facilitated Abuse or Exploitation (SAGIP BATA) Act.
The passage of SB 1819 would repeal Republic Act No. 11930, or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act.
Principally authored and sponsored by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the bill strengthens safeguards and enforcement mechanisms against online child sexual abuse, child sexual abuse materials and the recruitment of minors for violent acts.
“I will never allow this bill to be derailed by various interests. I will happily work with the government, especially our finance institutions, to forge a viable path forward. We will listen. We will work through legitimate concerns. But I will not allow delays at the behest of Big Tech,” Hontiveros said in a manifestation.
The measure specifically targets online sexual exploitation, including the use of artificial intelligence to abuse children.
It also seeks to combat nihilistic violent extremism by addressing digital groomers who incite minors to commit violent acts, including school shootings, or harm themselves.
Once enacted, the bill would allow investigators to submit formal requests for subscriber and traffic data in extremism cases and strengthen cooperation with international law enforcement agencies.
Technology companies would also face new compliance requirements, including mandatory age-assurance and age-verification protocols.
They would also be required to appoint a local legal representative in the Philippines authorized to receive subpoenas, account information requests and content removal orders.
“The protection of Filipino children cannot be held hostage by the corporate interests of social media platforms. Our children must come first,” Hontiveros said.