Fiber broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. invested over P100 million to intensify its network security systems to make the internet a safer place, especially for children.
To date, Converge has blocked over 20,000 websites featuring child sexual abuse imagery, stopping an average of 1,200 hits per minute to illicit sites.
So far, 2021 was the worst year on record for online child sexual abuse as internet groomers targeted younger children during the lockdowns.
The abuse of children aged between 7 and 10 years old surged three-fold, making it the fastest growing age group.
On the other hand, self-generated content of children aged 11-13 remains as the biggest age group for illicit material.
Younger children have been relying more and more on the internet during the pandemic, leaving them more vulnerable to predators who manipulate them into recording their own sexual abuse on camera. The footage is then shared among other criminals on the open internet.
Last year, UK-based child abuse watchdog Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), Converge's partner in the initiative, took action against 252,000 URLS containing images and videos of children being raped and suffering sexual abuse.
“We are committed to ensure our network is ironclad against illicit content, especially those harmful to children," Converge Chief Technology Officer Ronald Brusola reiterated in a statement.
"Schemes to spread this criminal content evolve with technology that’s why we continually upgrade our tools to combat them," he explained
"So far, we’ve invested over P100 million in internet safety tools to ensure that the content that passes through our network is safe,” according to Brusola.
As the pandemic draws more people to rely heavily on the internet for daily activities, Converge recognizes its role in ensuring that the internet remains a safe space for everyone.
Converge also works closely with the National Telecommunications Commission in the fight against online abuse and encourages everyone to support the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the Department of Social Welfare and Development with their Child Online Safeguarding Policy.
“Converge began this cybersecurity program four years ago, and since then, we’ve only increased our coverage to monitor illegal activity on our network," Brusola noted.
Apart from imagery of child sexual abuse, Converge is likewise on the lookout for scams involving financial institutions and online gambling.
"We are steadfast in making sure our network is being used for the good of everyone,” he concluded .