The Senate has approved a bill enhancing the Safe Spaces Act to address the growing threat of gender-based harassment driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies.
Senate Bill No. 2897, passed unanimously on its third and final reading with 23 affirmative votes, aims to amend Republic Act No. 11313 by introducing provisions to combat online harassment, deepfake pornography, and grooming practices.
In her sponsorship speech, Senator Hontiveros highlighted the need for the bill, emphasizing the rapid technological changes since the original law was enacted in 2019.
“When we made the current law (RA 11313), no one knew what AI was. Today, deep fakes are chronic. And pornography is being created with the use of these emerging technologies,” the sponsor stressed.
Hontiveros added that the measure responds directly to the concerns of young women, particularly in educational settings, who face harassment in both physical and virtual spaces.
The bill introduces stricter penalties for violators, including imprisonment for up to six months and fines ranging from P10,000 to P100,000.
SB 2897 also expands the definition of public spaces to include rural areas, fields, farms, coastal areas, and multi-purpose halls, recognizing that harassment occurs beyond urban centers.
Additionally, the bill establishes clear guidelines for internet intermediaries, requiring them to swiftly remove harmful content within 24 hours of receiving a notice from authorities and preserve data related to suspected violations for up to one year.
Senator Loren Legarda, a co-sponsor of the bill, expressed strong support for the amendments, emphasizing the importance of adapting the Safe Spaces Act to contemporary challenges.
“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 stated..
The proposed legislation also takes steps to protect children from predatory behavior by ensuring that adults in close contact with minors, such as teachers, do not have a history of such offenses.
“We also need to respond to the multiple cases of teacher-predators. This bill seeks to ensure that adults working in proximity to children have no history of predatory behavior,” Hontiveros furthered.
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