MANILA — Government officials and child rights advocates on Tuesday warned that the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) and wider internet access are creating new challenges in protecting minors from online sexual abuse and exploitation.

The warning came during a press briefing to launch the Safer Internet Day (SID) Celebration 2026, where officials said the growing digital footprint of children has led to unprecedented exposure to illicit online materials.

Justice Assistant Secretary Michelle Anne Lapuz described the issue as “a matter of national security” as it concerns the welfare of the country’s “future citizens.”

Council for the Welfare of Children Undersecretary Angelo Tapales cited data showing a 1,325 percent increase in AI-generated child sexual abuse materials, highlighting the growing threat posed by emerging technologies.

“The other side of AI is really beneficial — not just to children, but also to adults. But the other side is a dark threat to children. It’s something lurking there, waiting to victimize our children,” Tapales said. He added that the government will continue to adopt a “whole-of-country approach” to combat online abuse.

Plan International Philippines executive director Pebbles Sanchez-Ogang said increased online access has encouraged livestreaming among young people, which can expose them to greater risks. She also warned that participation in seemingly harmless online trends can be “alarming, dangerous, and scary.”

Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection Center chief Brig. Gen. Maria Shiela Portento said perpetrators are increasingly grooming children through online gaming platforms.

“One method is grooming through in-game platforms. They use a so-called gift tactic, where they top up a child’s account or give in-game currency. After grooming the child, they entice the child to move to private messaging apps, where the conversations continue,” Portento said.

Safer Internet Day is an initiative of the European Union’s SafeBorders project and is celebrated globally every second Tuesday of February, with related activities held throughout the month. First launched in 2004, SID is now observed in around 180 countries. The Philippines has marked SID annually since the issuance of Proclamation No. 417 on Feb. 5, 2018.