Manila: The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), in collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), is spearheading a regional initiative to bolster cooperation among ASEAN nations for the enhancement of child online safety and the broader fight against cybercrime.
According to Philippines News Agency, CICC Executive Director Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso emphasized the agency's commitment to lead this initiative, which seeks to address not only child safety but also other cybercrime-related challenges. Paraiso highlighted the importance of a strategic approach in tackling these issues across ASEAN countries, leveraging his prior experience pushing for inter-country cooperation on cybercrime.
During a recent forum, Scam Watch Pilipinas urged DICT and CICC to utilize the Philippines' ASEAN leadership to establish a regional front against online threats. Jocel De Guzman, co-founder and co-lead convenor of Scam Watch Pilipinas, suggested that ASEAN countries should adopt a mechanism similar to the European Union's approach to effectively combat cybercrime and enhance online safety.
Paraiso noted the urgency of regional cooperation, especially in cases of online child exploitation, where criminal groups often exploit jurisdictional gaps. He also stressed the need for technology platforms to be held accountable for their operations and services in the region, advocating for a stronger regulatory framework that respects local laws.
The CICC is working on stakeholder discussions to develop measures that strengthen online child safety, digital literacy, and platform accountability. These discussions will be furthered through a technical working group set to meet with representatives from major tech companies like Meta and Roblox.
The government, alongside stakeholders and partner agencies, aims to turn the recommendations from recent town hall meetings into actionable policies and cooperation agreements. These meetings have brought together various parties to address issues such as child grooming and malicious activities on online platforms, with a focus on creating a safer digital environment for children across ASEAN.
