PLDT

The Philippines’ PLDT and Smart regard the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) as a key ally against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC). The PLDT Group’s membership in the IWF has boosted its blocking of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), preventing more than a billion user attempts to open these illicit files since 2021. PLDT and Smart’s pioneering Child Protection Platform automatically blocks CSAM hashes sent by IWF and other legitimate sources, even at the more difficult content level. The Group also continues to explore new strategies with IWF and allies to stay ahead of criminals. Following the IWF’s report on the emergence of AI-generated CSAM, PLDT and Smart led talks on the issue with local and global stakeholders in 2023. The multi-sectoral forum, which was participated in by IWF from London, brought together policy makers, law enforcers, technology providers, and child rights advocates to advance efforts towards a global response to the rising menace. Together with IWF, PLDT and Smart continue to strengthen ties with like-minded allies with the aim of making the internet safer for all children, recognizing their rights, and enabling them to fully live their lives and build a bright and productive future for themselves.