THE Philippine National Police is training to navigate a tool being developed overseas to determine Artificial Intelligence or AI-generated child exploitation materials.

This is in preparation for the possible use of such material by sex offenders victimizing Filipino minors, PBGen. Portia Manalad, Director of the PNP Women and Children Protection Center, stated in a press briefing on Thursday (25 April 2024).

“Sa ngayon, mayroon nang trainings and then the tools, we are waiting for that one, for the law enforcement side po. For CSAEM (Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials) po ito,” Manalad said.

She also noted that the PNP has yet to receive reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse and exploitation materials being used in the Philippines. However, she emphasized that they are already capacitating themselves should cases be reported in the country.

She added that South Korea is already developing a tool that will help identify AI-generated CSAEM. She said the Philippines is trying to develop similar tools as it remains a challenge for them to identify CSAEM.

“We’re still developing that tool, we are trying to find really iyong technology na kaya nila na habulin, or parati silang na andoon sa kumbaga step ahead sa amin,” Manalad said.

“Itong AI-generated, we are really doing everything na iyong mga personnel namin, ganun iyong undercover and investigation. I trained with the tools, we are training for this, the tools, but ongoing iyong training for the AI-generated and other AI material iyong para sa CSAEM po,” she added.

She also emphasized that various agencies of the United Nations are already capacitating law enforcers for the identification of the CSAEM, or the tools used in exploiting minors.