Globe has called for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to combat growing threats to child safety online, as it reaffirms its commitment to internet safety on Safer Internet Day.
With the rapid evolution of digital technology, the internet has become both a vital tool and a potential risk, exposing children to exploitation and harm. The Philippines is the world’s highest producer of content rooted in online child sexual abuse and exploitation, according to a study led by the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Globe believes in promoting responsible and sustainable internet use— ensuring that digital platforms are not used to cause harm while also empowering individuals to use online resources for learning, productivity, and economic growth.
“Public and private sectors need to work closely together, now more than ever, to fight growing threats to child safety online. As they say, it takes a village to raise a child. We also would like to say, in today’s highly digital world, it takes a village– in fact the whole nation– to protect every Filipino child,” said Carlo Santos, Senior Director for Analytics and Stakeholder Engagement at Globe.
Globe has taken a proactive stance in protecting children online, investing $2.7 million for content-filtering technology that blocks malicious sites, including those with child sexual abuse content.
In 2024 alone, the company blocked 3,096 child pornography domains and URLs, including 387 cases of AI-generated or computer-generated imagery depicting child abuse.
It also works closely with government agencies, the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO), and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) to effectively fend off online threats against children.
While these measures serve as immediate interventions, Globe emphasizes the need for long-term solutions to evolving online threats.
At the frontlines of online child safety
To help promote online safety among children and their carers, Globe continues to drive digital literacy through its Digital Thumbprint Program, which has educated thousands of children and teens since its launch in 2017. In 2024 alone, DTP reached 6,194 young Filipinos across the country, equipping them with the knowledge to protect themselves from online risks.
Parents also play a critical role in internet safety. Through its MakeItSafe website, Globe helps parents decode digital language, identifying seemingly harmless terms that may have hidden sexual connotations and serve as red flags for potential exploitation.
Meanwhile, senior citizens — often targets of online scams — get essential digital safety training under the Senior Digizen program, helping them recognize and avoid cyber fraud.
Globe also recognizes that poverty is a major driver of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material (CSAEM). Economic desperation can lead individuals to resort to exploitative practices.
To address this, Globe launched The Hapag Movement in 2023, providing food and livelihood assistance to over 120,000 families, helping them become financially self-sufficient.
Globe calls on policymakers, industry leaders, and the broader community to work together in building a safer and more secure digital environment for future generations.
For more information on Globe’s online child safety efforts, please visit www.globe.com.ph.
