Porn sites blocked as NTC cracks down on child pornography
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has ordered a blanket block on websites that contain child pornography, regardless of whether or not the sites themselves are actively against such illegal content.
The government has said that it was only cracking down on child pornography but the directive has resulted in the full blockage of entire sites—a move that critics see as draconian.
Moreover, internet freedom advocates said that the government should go after the sources of illegal content.
Weekend surprise for Pinoy browsers
Over the weekend, Filipinos were surprised to find at least two famous porn websites inaccessible via mobile data connection on the Smart Communications network.
Rival Globe Telecom has yet to block the sites, but has officially said that it would comply with the directive.
Assistant Secretary Allan Cabanlog told GMA News that the NTC found 80% of cybercrimes in the country were related to child pornography.
The NTC has since ordered ISPs to block porn sites found to contain child porn pursuant to Republic Act 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Law.
The agency warned that a site could be blocked even if the illegal content was from a third party and even if the site was also against child pornography.
PornHub also against child porn
One blocked site, PornHub.com, is expressly against child pornography.
In its Terms of Service, the site makes users agree “not to use the (PornHub) Website to… post any Content depicting child pornography, rape, snuff, torture, death, violence, or incest, racial slurs or hate speech, (either aurally or via the written word)”.
Despite this, the porn site found itself blocked on government orders. Visitors to the site using a Smart mobile data connection are now met with a blank page that says, “This website has been ordered blocked under authority of the Philippine Government pursuant to Republic Act 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Law.”
Implication on internet freedom
This has serious implications on internet freedom, according to internet rights advocates.
The impact of the move extends beyond the issue of porn and infringes on peoples’ online rights, according to Democracy.net.ph co-founder Pierre Tito Galla.
“The issue really here is yung overreach ng government. They blocked everything when the law only allows them to block very specific kinds of content,” Galla told Ivan Mayrina on GMA News’ 24 Oras.
“The proper way should have been contacting the administrator of these websites and tell them, ‘We dont allow this content in our country, please dont allow this to enter our country,’ instead of blocking (the websites) wholesale,” Galla said.
“The Anti-Child Pornography Law is intended to catch the darkweb trade in child porn. (This move) reeks of taking unwarranted shortcuts. That worries me the most,” said Democracy.net.ph co-founder Kiko Acero.
PornHub did not respond for comment as of posting time. ## — (NB, GMA News)
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