Online Child Protection Research

Penal Laws
 RA 7610: Child Abuse Act
o Child abuse is the maltreatment, whether habitual or not, of a child
 Variants: Physical, Psychological, and Sexual abuse, and emotional
maltreatment. (Sec. 3(b)(1))
 Act or words which debases the intrinsic worth and dignity of a human
person (Sec. 3(b)(2))
o Any person who shall commit any other acts of child abuse, cruelty or
exploitation or to be responsible for other conditions prejudicial to the child's
development including those covered by Article 59 of Presidential Decree No.
603, as amended, but not covered by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, shall
suffer the penalty of prision mayor in its minimum period. (Section 10 (a)(1))

Other Laws
 RA 10929: Free Internet in Public Places Act
o Protection of Children: The DICT in coordination with the Inter-Agency
Council Against Child Pornography and in consultation with
telecommunications companies and civil society organizations shall develop
standards and mechanisms for the protection of children online, consistent with
existing laws on the rights and protection of the welfare of children. (Section
11)

Pending Bills
 S.B. 1519: An Act Providing Internet Safety and Protection for Children
o Purpose: Seeks to protect children from harmful materials in the internet
(Section 3(c))
 Harmful materials pertain to:
 Any communication, pictures… or other forms of media that is obscene
as defined by law (Section 3(c)(1))
 Depiction of sexual acts or lewd exhibitions (Section 3(c)(2))
 If taken as a whole, lack of serious literacy, artistic, political, or
scientific value for children (Section 3(c)(3))
o Prohibited Acts
 Offering unfiltered content to children or allowing children to access
unblocked websites (Section 10(a))
 Providing Internet Services to subscribers without filtering software in
bundled services (Section 10(b))
 Allowing in commercial establishments the transmittal of harmful
materials as defined in this act (Section 10(c))
 Installing or maintaining enclosed or private cubicles for individual
internet users; prima facie evidence of unlawful services (Section 10(d))
 Approving of permit for commercial establishments which violates this
Act (Section 10(e))
o Penalties:
 1st offense: 50,000 pesos
 2nd offense:100,00 pesos
 3rd offense: Revocation of license to operate + 200,000 pesos