Gatchalian urges gov't to protect children from from sexual predators who use AI
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday, February 7 urged the government to exhaust all means to counter the threat of artificial intelligence (AI) in worsening the problem of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC).
The senator made the call after Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) Undersecretary Angelo Tapales sounded the alarm on this new species of predators and the proliferation of children’s images that are altered using AI.
Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, echoed the CWC’s belief that the use of AI could eventually worsen child exploitation.
While other countries already have reports on the use of AI for child exploitation, the CWC official said the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Women and Children Protection Center is yet to receive such reports.
“Habang patuloy na nagiging moderno ang teknolohiya, nakaka-alarmang patuloy din na nakakahanap ng mga makabagong paraan ang mga nais mang abuso ng ating mga kabataan (As technology continues to modernize, it is alarming that those who want to abuse our youth continue to find innovative ways),” Gatchalian said.
“Mahalagang tugunan natin ang mga bantang ito at tiyaking sino mang gumagamit sa internet o teknolohiya upang abusuhin ang ating mga kabataan ay mananagot sa batas (It is important that we address these threats and ensure that anyone who uses the internet or technology to abuse our youth is held accountable by the law),” he said.
Currently, there are two laws that the government can enforce against OSAEC: the Anti-OSAEC and Anti-CSAEM Act or Republic Act No. 11930, and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022 or RA No. 11862.
Congress has alloted P30-millin under the 2024 national budget for the efficient implementation of these two laws.
“Nananawagan din ako sa ating mga magulang na bantayan nang maigi ang kanilang mga anak pagdating sa paggamit ng mga gadgets, lalo na’t maaaring maging daan ito upang makuha ang kanilang mga larawan at magamit sa iba’t ibang paraan ng karahasan at pang-aabuso (I also call on our parents to keep a close eye on their children when it comes to the use of gadgets, especially since it can be a way to get their pictures and use them in various ways of violence and will be abused),” he stressed.