Senate OKs tougher Safe Spaces Act vs. AI use for harassment

The Senate on Tuesday approved on third and final reading the bill expanding the Safe Spaces Act by adding provisions that seek to address gender-based online sexual harassment arising from the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies.

Senate Bill No. 2897 was approved with 23 affirmative votes, zero negative votes, and zero abstention.

SB 2897 also seeks to expand the definition of public spaces to include streets and alleys in rural areas, fields, farms, coastal areas, and multi-purpose halls.

It defines grooming as a predatory conduct, act or pattern of acts of establishing a relationship of trust, or emotional connection by another with a child or someone who is believed to be a child and/or family guardian, and/or caregivers, whether in person or via electronic and other similar devices, for the purpose of perpetrating sexual abuse or exploitation.

The bill proposes that internet intermediaries shall immediately block access to, remove, or take down the internet address, uniform resource locator (URL), and websites of any content containing material constitution violations of the act within 24 hours from receipt of notice from a competent authority. 

They shall preserve within six months or during the pendency of the case, all subscriber’s or registration information and traffic data in their control and possession. In the case of content data, the same shall be preserved for a year, and upon notice by the competent authority, the preservation shall be extended for another six months.

Those who violate the provisions of gender-based sexual harassment in the workplace shall face imprisonment of one to six months or a fine of P10,000 to P100,000 or both depending on the discretion of the court.

 “This bill responds to the urgent calls by our constituents, particularly young women in schools, to reform the law in order to better address their lived realities. When we made the current law (RA 11313), no one knew what AI was. Today, deepfakes are chronic. And pornography is being created with the use of these emerging technologies,” Senator Risa Hontiveros, sponsor of the measure, said.                

“We also need to respond to the multiple cases of teacher-predators. This bill seeks to respond to this by ensuring that adults working in close proximity to children have no history of predatory behavior,” she added.

Senator Loren Legarda, a co-sponsor of the bill, believes that the proposed amendments would strengthen the Safe Spaces Act as it addresses the evolving nature of harm and exploitation.

She said the introduction of a definition for grooming is a critical step forward. 

“Grooming is a deceptive betrayal of trust —a calculated manipulation that preys upon the innocent, especially our children. With this amendment, we draw a definition line: predators, whether lurking in physical proximity or hiding behind digital veils, will not escape the vigilance of the law,” Legarda said.—LDF, GMA Integrated News