Hontiveros raises alarm vs pedophiles in Facebook
SEN. Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday raised an alarm against pedophiles preying on unwitting children as potential victims through Facebook groups. In a news statement, Hontiveros tagged dubious public groups using Facebook named “Atabs” and “LF Kuya and Bunso,” posting images of minors to attract predators, warning that “abusers also use Facebook groups to advertise that they also sell children’s photos or videos on other messaging apps, such as Telegram.”
“Nakakasuklam at nakakagalit na may mga taong tahasang nang-aabuso sa ating kabataan,” the senator fumed, adding: “Gamit na rin nila ang Facebook messenger or Telegram para mag-usap at magbenta ng libo-libong mga pictures at videos. Ang iba, gumagamit pa ng cloud storage tulad ng Mega dahil napakalaki ng volume.”
Hontiveros fumed that being a mother she is really “worried for the security of our children in the Internet.”
“Bilang ina, mas lalo akong nangangamba sa seguridad ng ating mga anak sa Internet. Kailangang maipasa na ang Anti-online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children [OSAEC] law para tunay na mapanagot ang mga salarin at pati ang mga social media platforms at Internet intermediaries na hinahayaang lumaganap ang kabastusang ito,” she stressed.
Hontiveros, principal author and sponsor of the law, recalled that just last week she also revealed the “Usapang Diskarte Facebook page and Youtube channel, which teaches its subscribers on how to prey on children.” After the senator’s call to her followers to report the account, both the page and the channel were taken down by Facebook and Youtube.
She insisted, however, it is not enough to just take down dubious sites. “Hindi sapat na nate-take down lang ang mga page o channel. Kahit mai-report online, gagawa at gagawa lang din sila ng panibagong accounts. Maging proactive na dapat ang mga social-media platforms at messaging apps sa pagsugpo ng mga gawaing nakakapahamak sa mga bata,” she said.
While the Senator acknowledged that the “Internet has been part of the life of youngsters” she stressed that it should not include “violence and abuse inflicted on children offline or online,” adding that “we should do everything to ensure the safety of our children. Let us pass the ANTI-OSAEC Law.”