PASAY CITY—The Senate took a decisive stand against the evolving landscape of cybercrime on Tuesday, February 10, by sponsoring Senate Bill No. 1819 sponsored by Senator Risa Hontiveros.

Senator Risa Hontiveros emphasized in her speech the need for this bill to address online sexual abuse for Filipino children.

“A measure that responds to one of the most brutal crimes of our time, one that hides behind screens but destroys real Filipino children.” Senator Hontiveros noted.

This landmark legislation aims to overhaul existing protections to better shield minors from online sexual abuse and exploitation. 

Lawmakers made it clear that as technology advances, the law must move faster, targeting the sophisticated digital loopholes that currently allow predators to operate in the shadows of the internet.

During the session, officials sounded the alarm on the "triple threat" of artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and instant digital payments, which syndicates now use to bypass traditional safeguards. 

The bill demands unprecedented accountability from tech platforms and financial service providers, stripping away the anonymity that often protects traffickers. 

By prioritizing the dignity of children over corporate negligence, the Senate is signaling an end to the era of digital impunity for those preying on the vulnerable.

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