PLDT, Smart lead push to protect kids online

As children become increasingly connected in today’s digital landscape, PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) are emphasizing proactive measures to safeguard young users from online abuse and exploitation.

The leading Philippine telcos participated in the 2025 ASEAN ICT Forum on Child Online Protection in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, joining government officials, industry leaders, civil society, and youth representatives from across Southeast Asia to address emerging digital threats to children.

The forum highlighted the growing risks of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) and the spread of child sexual abuse and exploitation materials (CSAEM), particularly through AI-driven technologies and livestreaming platforms.

“Given the increasing complexity and prevalence of these online risks to children, our child protection agenda must move from policy to practical action. This requires stronger, proactive measures from the telecommunications industry to put children at the center of technology design,” said Department of Justice Assistant Secretary Michelle Ann Lapuz.
PLDT and Smart Chief Sustainability Officer Melissa Vergel de Dios added, “As we continue connecting millions of Filipinos to the digital world, promoting a safe online experience for children is part of our responsibility. We support government efforts to combat OSAEC and actively use our voice in the industry to uphold the digital rights and safety of children.”
Industry-leading initiatives by PLDT and Smart include:
Child Protection Platform technology: Automatically blocks URLs linked to OSAEC, leveraging the Internet Watch Foundation’s dynamic blacklist and Project Arachnid from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection.
Regular reporting and transparency: Ahead of the National Telecommunications Commission’s quarterly reporting requirement, PLDT and Smart have blocked over 2 million OSAEC URLs since June 2021 and more than 860,000 access attempts since January 2025.
Human rights and child safeguarding policies: Institutionalize child-friendly business practices aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Children’s Rights and Business Principles.

Global benchmarking: In the 2025 Global Child Forum assessment, PLDT tied with Swedish peer Tele2 as the world’s top-performing telco for integrating children’s rights across governance, workplace, marketplace, and community programs.

PLDT and Smart also continue forging strategic partnerships to enhance “safety-by-design” in their products and encourage meaningful participation of children in shaping digital policies. These efforts align with both the Philippine government’s multi-year strategy against OSAEC and CSAEM and the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on Child Online Protection.