The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading House Bill No. 9461, also known as the "Child Online Safety and Protection Act of 2026," which aims to strengthen the protection of children against online sexual abuse and other digital threats.
With a vote of 284 in favor, none against, and no abstentions, the measure was passed on Tuesday. It is among the priority bills of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
Key Authors and Statements
The principal authors of the bill are House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" G. Dy III and House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander "Sandro" Marcos.
"There is no room in our society for those who exploit children. The government's duty is to ensure our children are safe—at home, in school, and even on the internet and social media," Speaker Dy stated.
Scope of the Bill
The proposed measure expands Republic Act No. 11930 to include in the definition of crimes content created using Artificial Intelligence (AI), synthetic, and digitally manipulated materials such as deepfakes that involve children. It also penalizes online grooming, sexual extortion, luring, and livestreamed exploitation.
Those found guilty of producing or facilitating child abuse materials will face life imprisonment and a fine of at least PHP 2 million. Possession of such materials carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, while intentional access can result in up to 12 years.
Enforcement Mechanisms
The bill empowers authorities to block and take down illegal websites and accounts. Internet service providers, digital platforms, and financial institutions are required to report and restrict suspicious transactions related to abuse.
It also establishes the National Council for Child Online Safety and Protection under the Department of Justice (DOJ), along with the National Child-Safety Command and Operations Service as its operational arm for investigations and operations against syndicates.
