Telcos and ISPs can be charged if they refuse to cooperate with the government in taking down online predators of children.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla warned the department would file charges against Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and telecommunication companies (Telcos) should they refuse to cooperate in tracking down online predators or those who are involved in the exploitation of children and sexual abuse.
“Pag hindi nag cooperate ang mga ISPs at nakakalusot lagi, there is a pattern na lumulusot sa kanila [If the ISPs don’t cooperate and we see a pattern of transactions that slip them], we will also include them among those to be charged for online exploitation,” Remulla said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay Forum.
There has been an increase in cyber tip reports of child sexual abuse and exploitation materials from 400,000 in 2019, 1.2 million in 2020, and 2.8 million in 2021 according to the data from the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Cybercrime.
If ISPs and telcos still refuse to cooperate with the government, Remulla said the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) can issue fines daily.
“It has been done before,” Inquirer quoted Remulla.
ISPs and telcos can also be closed for refusing to cooperate, which is equivalent to conspiring with the enemy.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) is also involved in the investigation of cyber predators and their associates because there have been billions of dollars that are being exchanged daily because of these online exploitations.
Remulla will be having a meeting with the officials and personnel of DOJ’s cybercrime units and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to learn how long it will take these ISPs and telcos to comply and how much it will cost them.
Republic Act 11930 or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children Act (OSAEC) lapsed into law. It amended the Anti-Pornography Act which would protect Filipino children who are most vulnerable on the Internet.
The government is currently completing the law’s implementation rules and regulations (IRR).
Tags: #onlinepredators, #children, #DOJ, #ISP, #telcos