In a recent TV interview, the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) Usec. Angelo Tapales issued a warning about the escalating threat of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered child abuse and exploitation. Tapales cautioned parents against sharing pictures of their children online, emphasizing the potential use by sexual predators to create fake explicit images.
Tapales highlighted the emerging danger of online sexual abuse and exploitation, urging parents to exercise restraint in sharing personal images on social media platforms. He pointed out the use of technology by predators to exploit minors, advising parents to educate their children about safe internet practices. Data from the Philippine National Police revealed a concerning rise in reported cases of violence against children including online sexual abuse and exploitation.
The legislative response to these issues included the approval of House Bill 9670, aiming to enhance the protection of children’s rights by establishing Parent-Teacher-Community Associations in child development centers and schools. These associations play a vital role in advocating and supporting child protection policies for the overall welfare of children.
The warning comes amid concerns over explicit AI-generated images circulating on social media platforms. Recently, X (formerly Twitter) blocked searches for Taylor Swift after explicit AI-generated images of the singer surfaced online, prompting alarm from both officials and fans.
Tech CEOs, including (Facebook) Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, X CEO Linda Yaccarino, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel and Discord CEO Jason Citron, faced a grilling by US lawmakers on the dangers posed by social media platforms to children and teens. The hearing, titled “Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis,” addressed concerns about online safety and the impact of social media on children’s well-being.
The hearing aimed to address the inadequacies of social media platforms in safeguarding children from various online threats including sexual predators, explicit content, cyberbullying and mental health issues. Lawmakers expressed frustration with the perceived prioritization of profits over the well-being of young users.
Lawmakers pressed the executives on their efforts to address child safety issues including proposals like the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and age verification requirements for social media accounts. However, challenges in passing new legislation were acknowledged, with web platforms currently shielded from legal liability under existing US law.
In response to the scrutiny, Meta and X announced new measures to enhance online safety. Meta introduced measures to block direct messages sent to young teens by strangers and tightened content restrictions for teens on Instagram and Facebook. X set up a content moderation team in Austin, Texas focused on combating child sexual exploitation content on its platform.
