Manila: The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is intensifying efforts against nihilistic violent extremism (NVE) and other harmful online content. The move complies with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to strengthen child protection and promote a safer digital environment.
According to Philippines News Agency, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda stated that the agency is enhancing coordination with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), Philippine National Police (PNP), internet service providers, telecommunications companies, and digital platforms. The goal is to improve threat monitoring, information-sharing, and network-level safeguards.
As part of the joint effort, Globe Telecom Inc., PLDT Inc., Smart Communications Inc., and Converge ICT Solutions Inc. are stepping up voluntary network-level blocking of websites carrying graphic violence, school shooting footage, child sexual abuse and exploitation materials, scams, and other prohibited content. PLDT and Smart have initiated preemptive blocking of more than 100 domains linked to extreme violence, while Globe is broadening its blocking of websites featuring gore and real-world violence.
Furthermore, Globe blocked 438,446 domains related to child sexual abuse and exploitation materials in 2025. Converge reported blocking nearly 12 billion access attempts to harmful websites and blacklisting more than 72,000 domains in the same year. These efforts are part of ongoing initiatives to protect Filipinos, particularly children and young people, from harmful content and threats such as NVE.
Aguda emphasized that keeping the internet safe is a shared responsibility and encouraged all partners in government and industry to remain vigilant and collaborate to prevent harmful content from promoting violence, exploitation, or other dangerous activities. The measures are part of broader network-level child safeguarding and anti-abuse initiatives carried out with Philippine government agencies and international child-safety organizations.
These include measures under Child Online Safeguarding Policies (COSP) to reduce children's exposure to cyber threats, online exploitation, violence, and other harmful content. Providers also adhere to due process and their respective Human Rights Policies in implementing website blocking and other network safeguards. The DICT stated that the comprehensive effort by the government and industry aims to reduce exposure to NVE-related and other harmful materials, protect children and vulnerable users, and strengthen a safer, more trusted digital environment for all Filipinos.
