The Manila Times

ENFORCE NEW LAW VS ABUSE OF KIDS – SENATOR

BY BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO

sEN. Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros pressed for the immediate implementation of the new law against online sexual abuse against children amid the proliferation of “exploitative materials” in social media.

The senator on Thursday said that Republic Act 11930, or the “Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) Law” lapsed into law on July 30.

“Urgent action is always needed when it comes to the protection of our children,” said Hontiveros, author and sponsor of the OSAEC Law.

She noted more exploitative materials flourished online during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“That’s why the law should be implemented immediately,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

She deplored that due to technological advancement, child predators have come up with new ways on how to victimize children online.

“According to our sources, they now use a different language in social media which our law enforcers cannot immediately detect,” she said in Filipino and English.

The Anti-OSAEC Law increases the responsibilities of social media platforms, electronic service providers, as well as internet and financial intermediaries, requiring these stakeholders to block and preserve OSAEC materials, and cooperate with law enforcement agents.

The new law also grants additional tools to our law enforcers when surveilling and investigating OSAEC cases.

Another feature of the law is the creation of the National Coordinating Center against OSAEC, and Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material, which will be under the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.

It also protects and guarantees the child victims of OSAEC the provision of psycho-social needs.

Meanwhile, in a statement sent to media, the Globe Group vowed to support the OSAEC Law “by championing private sector participation in shielding children from the dangers they face on the internet.”

“We share in the excitement of our fellow child rights advocates and in celebrating this milestone in our quest to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation online,” said Froilan Castelo, Globe Group general counsel.

“This law is fully aligned with our long-standing programs against OSAEC, as Globe has been at the forefront of this fight. This inspires us even more to bolster our efforts against these online risks,” Castelo said.

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2022-08-05T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-08-05T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://digitaledition.manilatimes.net/article/281556589589249

The Manila Times