PLDT, Google launch Internet safety drive
PHONE giant PLDT inc. and multinational technology company Google have partnered to raise awareness about online safety for Filipino children.
They launched over the weekend the “be internet Awesome” website meant to educate children and families about online safety and digital citizenship. Their partnership underpins PLDT Group’s commitment to customer-centricity and doing business responsibly, officials said Saturday.
“This collaboration reinforces our child protection advocacies and responsibility to keep online spaces safe for all. As we strengthen customercentricity, we not only find ways to simplify technology and elevate the quality of experience for customers of all ages, but also strive to put their safety and well-being in the way we design and develop our products and services,” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, President and CEO of PLDT and Smart communications, inc.
Google’s “be internet Awesome” program is a global effort designed to teach children about online safety and digital responsibility. The program provides modules, online games, and other materials that teachers, parents and guardians can use to educate kids about digital citizenship and literacy.
These learning materials were piloted in more than 20 schools last year. From the initial reach of over 2,000 students, Google and the Department of Education had engaged over 12,000 students from grades 4 to 8 across Metro Manila and nearby areas towards the end of 2021. The “be internet Awesome” program is part of the many efforts of Google to help keep people safe online.
“We are glad to have found a likeminded partner in PLDT who champions the same values when it comes to protecting kids online. Through PLDT and more potential partners in the future, we hope to scale be internet Awesome and provide more families with a practical way of teaching digital safety and wellness to their children so they can become responsible, confident explorers of the online world,” said bernadette Nacario, country Director of Google Philippines.
PLDT said it has institutionalized a pioneering child safeguarding policy that applies to the telco’s entire workforce and extends to its engagement with customers, communities, business partners, and others. it has invested over P2-billion in its cybersecurity defenses, under which the telco has deployed a child protection platform that detects and prevents domain and content-level access to child sexual abuse materials within its network. The group also secured alliances with sectors and child protection entities such as unicef, the internet Watch Foundation, canadian centre for child Protection, international Justice Mission, and Saferkidsph.