PLDT Inc. and its mobile unit Smart Communications blocked 83,000 attempts to access child sexual abuse and exploitation materials (CSAEM) in January, half the number recorded a year earlier.
The companies said their blacklist of illicit child-related URLs has expanded to two million since the launch of their Child Protection Platform in 2021.
Roby T. Alampay, first vice president and head of public engagement, said the CSAEM blocking tool “has empowered the Group to clamp down on the accessibility of images depicting online child sexual abuse and exploitation.”
Unlike conventional filters, the system intercepts material at the URL or digital hash level, redirecting users to a warning page without affecting legitimate content.
PLDT and Smart said the platform is reinforced by partnerships with the Internet Watch Foundation and Canada’s Project Arachnid, which provide updated intelligence and automated detection tools.
The group also supports the Council for the Welfare of Children’s MAKABATA Helpline 1383, which handled more than 1,000 abuse and custody-related reports in 2024, and last year partnered with government agencies to roll out Unified 911, a cloud-based emergency response system.
Through its #BeCYBERSMART campaign, PLDT trained nearly 59,000 individuals in 2025 on data protection, scam awareness and responsible online behavior.
The initiatives come as lawmakers debate restrictions on children’s gadget use. PLDT and Smart said safeguards, digital literacy and parental guidance must be combined to ensure children benefit from connectivity while remaining protected online.
The programs form part of PLDT’s commitment to child protection and align with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16 on ending violence against children.
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