The House of Representatives has passed House Bill No. 9461, the Child Online Safety and Protection Act of 2026, with all 284 lawmakers voting in favor. The measure aims to strengthen defenses against child exploitation in digital spaces.
Authored by Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III and Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, the bill repeals the OSAEC and CSAEM Act (RA 11930) and replaces it with a broader framework. Lawmakers said the update is needed to address new threats like AI‑generated and deepfake content.
The law expands the definition of child sexual abuse materials to include synthetic and manipulated media. It also criminalizes online grooming, sexual extortion, luring, image‑based abuse, and livestreamed exploitation.
Penalties are tough: life imprisonment and ₱2 million fines for producers and distributors, up to 20 years for possession, and up to 12 years for accessing such materials.
Authorities will have stronger powers to block, take down, and disrupt accounts or platforms used for exploitation. ISPs, platforms, schools, and financial intermediaries will also be required to detect and report violations.
Financial surveillance will be enhanced, allowing temporary restrictions on suspicious transactions linked to child abuse.
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The bill also creates a National Council for Child Online Safety and Protection under the DOJ, backed by a National Child‑Safety Command and Operations Service to handle investigations and coordination.
