THE SENATE has approved a bill amending Republic Act No. 11313, the Safe Spaces Act, to address gender-based online sexual harassment resulting from the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies.

Senate Bill No. 2897 seeks to expand the definition of gender-based harassment to include AI and other technologies in virtual spaces.

“This bill responds to urgent calls from our constituents, especially young women in schools, to reform the law to better address their lived realities. When the current law was made, no one knew what AI was. Today, deep fakes are widespread, and pornography is being created with these technologies,” said Senator Risa Hontiveros.

The proposed legislation also aims to broaden the definition of public spaces to include streets and alleys in rural areas, fields, farms, coastal areas, and multi-purpose halls.

It defines grooming as a predatory conduct or pattern of actions to establish a trust-based or emotional connection with a child or someone believed to be a child and/or their family guardian or caregivers, for the purpose of sexual abuse or exploitation, whether in person or online.

Under the measure, internet intermediaries are required to block access to, remove, or take down any content violating the act within 24 hours of receiving notice from a competent authority. They must preserve all subscriber or registration information and traffic data for six months or until the case is resolved, and content data for up to one year, with the possibility of extending preservation for another six months upon notice from the competent authority.

Anyone found violating gender-based sexual harassment provisions in the workplace will face imprisonment of 1 to 6 months, a fine of P10,000 to P100,000, or both, at the discretion of the court.

“We also need to address the issue of teacher-predators. This bill aims to ensure that adults working closely with children have no history of predatory behavior,” Hontiveros added.

Senator Loren Legarda, a co-sponsor of the bill, emphasized that the proposed amendments would strengthen the Safe Spaces Act, addressing the evolving nature of harm and exploitation.

“The introduction of a definition for grooming is a critical step forward. Schools and training institutions should be sanctuaries of learning. Grooming is a deceptive betrayal of trust. With this amendment, we draw a clear line: predators, whether physically present or hiding behind digital veils, will be held accountable,” Legarda said.

The Safe Spaces Act, originally enacted in 2019, aims to ensure that all spaces—both physical and virtual—are free from gender-based harassment.