PLDT Group said on Tuesday that it has blocked billions of access attempts on malicious domains, cyberattacks, and data breaches during the first quarter of the year, as it pushes for a safer online environment in the Philippines.
“As digital platforms increasingly shape how Filipinos live, learn, work, and transact, online safety must be embedded into the infrastructure that connects them,” PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer Menardo “Butch” Jimenez, Jr. said in a statement.
“The PLDT Group continues to strengthen cybersecurity, advance responsible AI, and apply security‑ by‑ design across its networks,” he added.
Data from the group showed that it has blocked 49 billion access attempts to malicious domains, and 208,000 access attempts to Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) URLs and content.
The group also reported preventing 1.4 billion cyberattacks and data breaches nationwide.
“We use a specialized child protection platform that automatically detects and blocks URLs linked to OSAEC, preventing billions of illicit access attempts,” Mr. Jimenez said.
“Beyond technology, we continue to work with various child rights organizations to promote child rights and online protection,” he added.
In 2024, CyberTipline, a reporting system under the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), received 20.5 million reports of online child sexual abuse and exploitation images and videos globally. Of which, 1.7 million involved Filipino children.
With the alarming rate of OSAEC cases, Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros-Baraquel urged the passage of a stronger law against OSAEC last week.
Ms. Hontiveros said that the move comes after the country ranked 15th in a global index measuring countries’ responses to child sexual violence. She noted that the ranking highlights the need to strengthen the Anti-OSAEC Law, as artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies pose further risks to children.
The proposed measure seeks to address the “disturbing trend” of AI-generated child sexual abuse materials and penalize sexual and sadistic extortion of children.
Apart from blocking illegal online activities, PLDT Home has strengthened its online safety advocacy by providing discussions and practical tips on its growing Online Alerto community.
The online community currently has 77,000 members and has attracted more than 25,000 attendees in its Facebook Live sessions.
500 students across Far Eastern University, the Universidad de Manila, and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines have also joined the Online AlerTour. The program tackled pressing online concerns, including phishing scams, misinformation, identity theft, online fraud, and responsible social media behavior. — Almira Louise S. Martinez
