Globe Telecom Inc. has joined the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) to bolster its fight against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC).
Froilan Castelo, the company’s general counsel, said Globe recognizes the need for a strengthened arsenal against OSAEC, hence, joining IWF is a move that will empower the company to address this.
“Globe has always been an ally of child rights and child protection initiatives. Partnering with international monitoring groups such as IWF is a mindful step to further our mission in eliminating OSAEC in the country. Through this, we not only advocate responsible online behavior and wellness but help protect the future generation from OSAEC,” he said.
IWF is a nonprofit organization that works closely with law enforcement agencies of national governments, internet service providers and platforms, and charitable organizations in taking down webpages, keywords, hash lists, and digital fingerprints that contain child abuse materials.
“In the international battle against child sexual abuse material and the criminals who spread it online, it is good to see more and more companies taking a strong stand and joining us to eradicate this harmful content from the internet,” IWF Chief Executive Susie Hargreaves said.
“Knowing videos and images of their sexual abuse are still being circulated among online predators haunts victims, making the abuse something that can seem to never go away. The work of our analysts to find and remove this content for good protects victims and helps make the internet a safer place where criminals have no place to hide.”
Aside from IWF, Globe has also partnered with the Ateneo Human Rights Center (AHRC), the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P), and the United Nations Children’s Fund, to help it with its OSAEC-related initiatives.
“We intended to do a more holistic approach in addressing online child protection. We address the source of these online materials by site blocking. We understand that this space is dynamic so we need to be continuously vigilant. At the same time, we also look at the victims, and the possible victims of this illegal practice. By giving them helplines and counseling assistance, they may be able to put the experience behind them and hopefully feel safe again,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe SVP for Corporate Communications and Chief Sustainability Officer.