SENATOR Risa Hontiveros has filed a measure that seeks to strengthen the protection of children against online sexual abuse and exploitation.

Senate Bill 2068 aims to amend the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 and Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009.

Hontiveros stressed that various researches and studies have shown that the Philippines is a global hotspot of online sexual abuse and exploitation.

Based on the National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children in the Philippines conducted in 2016, about 43.7 percent of children aged 13 to 18 have experienced violence online.

“Children have become more vulnerable to risks and harms online especially because of the recent digital advancements and increased penetration of communications technology in the Philippines,” Hontiveros said in her explanatory note.

The senator explained that laws on online sexual abuse and exploitation of children do not capture the extraordinary features of violence as they are already outdated and are not responsive to the protection needed by children using the internet.

Senate Bill 2068 provides treatments and penalties for online abuse and exploitation of minors.

Under the bill, social media networks or similar entities found guilty of failing to remove any content of child sexual abuse and exploitation or any live stream or broadcast shall pay a P10 million fine.

The bill also mandates banks, money service businesses, credit card companies, electronic money issuers and other financial institutions who have direct knowledge of any online exploitation financial activity to report to the proper authorities within seven days from discovery.