The onset of the pandemic has seen greater screen time for children, which also increased their risk of exposure to malicious content, making it all the more crucial for parents to take action in ensuring their safety and privacy online.
The US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, meanwhile, reported a 209% rise in cyber tips or information on child exploitation in the Philippines in 2020, the first year of strict quarantine restrictions.
The Department of Justice earlier said cases of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) in the Philippines rose by 264.6% to 202,605 when Luzon was under lockdown from March to May 2020.
In a webinar held last February 8, Globe, along with its partners from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Internet Watch Foundation, CitizenWatch, and Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente (BK3), discussed the importance of having a holistic approach in addressing OSAEC and safeguarding children’s online safety.
“Parents play a vital role in safeguarding children’s online safety. More than just monitoring their kids’ devices and managing their screen time, it is equally important for them to educate their children on how to protect themselves and look out for their peers when faced with dangerous situations online,” said Globe Chief Privacy Officer Irish Salandanan-Almeida.
Almeida stressed that it is key for parents to be aware of what their children do online, who they talk to, where they go, and what they download and use. She highlighted how Globe is prepared to support parents in this endeavor, with their children’s activity book entitled “Safe Space: A Kid’s Guidebook to Data Privacy” available on the Globe e-Library. The material was developed as part of Globe’s partnership with the National Privacy Commission (NPC) on the Kabataang Digital Program.
Through its #MakeITSafePH campaign, Globe continues to invest in infrastructure that supports the government’s campaign against online child pornography. To date, the company has spent US$2.7 million to establish an effective content filtering system, and has blocked 9,329 sites and online content that promote OSAEC.
Globe also partners with local and international institutions such as UNICEF, with whom the company has been working to promote online safety and security among children since 2019, the Internet Watch Foundation, the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P), and many others.
The #MakeITSafePH campaign is one of Globe’s key programs that provides practical tips and easy-to-digest information about cybersecurity and safety. It promotes online vigilance to help Filipinos defend themselves against online hacking, identity theft, and other cybercrimes.
Globe also supports government initiatives to fight online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) and continues to invest in public education tools and platforms on digital citizenship and responsibility. This includes the Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) and the Global Filipino Teachers (GFT) program.
To learn more about Globe’s Digital Thumbprint Program, you may access the eModules at https://www.youtube.com/user/GlobeCSR/playlists
Globe supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG No. 9 which highlights the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development, and UN SDG No. 17 which emphasizes the value of partnerships in achieving the sustainable development goals. Globe is committed to upholding the United Nations Global Compact principles and contributing to 10 UN SDGs.
To learn more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.
