GLOBE Telecom Inc. vowed to continue its commitment to online safety and protection in light of the increase in child pornography and illegal gambling sites it has blocked recently.
Globe said it had intercepted 1,718 domains and 190,167 uniform resource locators (URLs) related to child pornography in the first half of 2024, an increase from the 1,295 domains and 129,652 URLs blocked during the same period in 2023.
It said it had stepped up its crackdown on illegal gambling sites as it deactivated 2,726 gambling domains in the first six months of 2024, up from 1,828 domains the previous year.
“Globe is focused on creating a safer online environment for all, especially children. Our increased efforts to restrict access to harmful content reflect our dedication to upholding the highest standards of online safety,” Globe Chief Information Security Officer and Chief AI Officer Anton Bonifacio said.
Globe cited a study from the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which identified the Philippines as a leading source of online sexual abuse or exploitation of children’s content.
Since the initiation of its #MakeITSafePH campaign in 2017, Globe said it has aligned its initiatives with the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 (Republic Act 9775), which requires internet service providers to prevent access to or transmission of child pornography.
Globe said its commitment is further underscored by its investment of over $2.70 million in advanced content filtering systems to enhance its capabilities in detecting and blocking illegal content.
The telco said it also collaborates closely with various organizations, including the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Department of Justice, the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators, and nongovernment groups to bolster child protection online.