How Filipinas Are Being Protected Online and Offline: Key Insights

In the Philippines, women continue to face disproportionate levels of online gender-based violence.

According to the latest data from the Foundation for Media Alternatives, 22.2% of reported cases in 2023 involved threats, blackmail, and abuse.

To address these challenges, government agencies, tech companies, and law enforcement are collaborating to combat digital violence and ensure safety for women. During a Women’s Month event, key organizations such as the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Google, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) shared their strategies and initiatives to create a safer digital environment for women.

Here are the four main efforts highlighted at the event:

1. Promoting Digital Literacy to Combat Cyber Fraud

With the rise of online scams and fraud, especially targeting vulnerable groups such as women, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is spearheading initiatives to increase digital literacy and awareness about cybercrime. In 2023, nearly 59% of social engineering scams were linked to phishing attacks, making it crucial for individuals, particularly women, to understand how to identify and avoid fraud.

Atty. Antoni Pauline Pascual of the BSP emphasized, “Social engineering schemes remain among the top 10 fraud methods in the Philippines. Although we’ve been running awareness campaigns, many Filipinos still don’t recognize when they’re being victimized online.”

2. Raising Awareness for Safe Online Spaces

The National Privacy Commission is working to create safer online spaces for women, where they can report gender-based harassment with confidence. Through the Safe Spaces Act, online platforms are now legally required to protect users from harassment. However, psychological barriers often prevent victims from coming forward.

Atty. Izelle Deloso of the NPC explained, “If your safety or sexuality has been violated, you might be scared to report it. We want people to feel empowered to speak up, knowing they have a safe place to report violations.”

3. Combating Violence, Trafficking, and Harassment

With over 8,000 cases of violence against women and children reported in 2024, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is actively working to address these issues. The PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group handles internet-based violence against women and children (VAWC) through its Women and Children Cybercrime Protection Unit. They are committed to ensuring that victims can safely report incidents and work in close coordination with international law enforcement.

Lt. Col. Herlyn P. Lazaro of the PNP-ACG assured, “You can approach us and even send us a message through social media. We treat all information with confidentiality and work with local and international agencies to apprehend offenders.”

4. Leveraging AI to Detect Harmful Content and Connect Women to Resources

Google is playing a key role in protecting women online by using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect harmful content across its platforms. With the power of tools like Google Search, women can easily access emergency resources such as the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) Crisis Hotline. Additionally, AI algorithms are used to detect harmful language and online abuse, allowing for swift removal of such content and quicker reporting processes for victims.

Audrey Turay-Magdato, Google Cloud Security Country Lead for Google Philippines, shared, “Google is protecting women through AI and security technologies. We combine platform tools, digital literacy programs, and partnerships to combat harassment and misinformation.”

Moreover, Google is helping to prepare women for careers in cybersecurity through programs like the Google Cybersecurity Career Certificate, which aims to equip women with the skills needed to succeed in the digital security field.

A Collaborative Effort for Safer Online Spaces

These initiatives represent a joint effort by government and private sectors to provide women with the tools and support they need to stay safe online and offline. Undersecretary for Cybersecurity Jeffrey Ian Dy of the Department of Information and Communications Technology emphasized the importance of collaboration in ensuring online safety, saying, “We remain committed to strengthening cybersecurity measures and appreciate Google’s partnership in creating a safer digital future for Filipinos.”

Through these efforts, the hope is to reduce incidents of online violence, promote a safer online experience, and empower women to take control of their digital spaces.

For more information on how Google is enhancing online safety, visit the Safer with Google website.