MANILA — Child rights groups have raised alarms over a rise in artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled online abuse against Filipino children, ahead of this year’s Safer Internet Day celebration.

In a report, Plan International Pilipinas and the Consuelo Foundation highlighted the growing use of AI tools capable of generating hyper-realistic images, videos, and voice recordings, which are increasingly exploited to harass, extort, or abuse children online.

The organizations will hold the Safer Internet Day event on February 24, 2026, under the theme, “Beyond the Feed: Safeguarding Girls, Children, and Young People in AI-Driven Digital Spaces.” The celebration will bring together lawmakers, technology companies, youth leaders, and civil society groups to discuss solutions for online safety.

Emerging AI applications, the groups said, are being used to produce manipulated sexual images, deepfake content, impersonation scams, and more sophisticated grooming tactics that are difficult for parents and authorities to detect.

“We are facing a reality where algorithms move faster than our laws, leaving children vulnerable to abuse before we even know the risks exist,” said Pebbles Sanchez-Ogang, Executive Director of Plan International Pilipinas.

Citing studies, the groups said one in two children has experienced some form of online violence, while seven out of ten girls report being subjected to online abuse. With AI lowering technical barriers to creating manipulated sexual images and videos, children—especially girls—face heightened risks of image-based abuse, cyberbullying, impersonation, and online blackmail.

The National Coordinating Center Against OSAEC-CSAEM noted that reported incidents remain far lower than actual cases, suggesting that many abuses continue to go unreported.

Sanchez-Ogang stressed that innovation should not outpace safeguards designed to protect children. “Through the Safer Internet Day Celebration, we are calling for a collective shift—one that strengthens collaboration among government, tech companies, communities, and families. Digital safety is a shared responsibility. It calls for ‘Smart Tech’ that prioritizes child protection and ‘Smart Choices’ from all of us to create safer online spaces for them,” she said.

The February 24 event will also spotlight youth voices, with girl leaders and youth advocates offering recommendations on safer digital spaces. Sessions will focus on improving reporting systems, enhancing built-in safeguards, and equipping families and communities to respond to online risks.

Dr. Mariella Castillo, managing director of Consuelo Foundation, highlighted the real-world consequences of online abuse. “What happens on our screens has real-world consequences for our children. ‘Beyond the Feed’ is not just a theme; it is a call to look past the algorithms and see the human cost of unchecked technology,” she said.

The celebration is part of Plan International Pilipinas’ #StandWithGirls campaign, a movement promoting long-term investment in girls’ rights, safety, and leadership. The organization will mark 65 years of work with children and girls across the Philippines this June and will highlight initiatives such as SAFE Online, SUFASEC, and Connect2Protect, which aim to strengthen digital safety systems.

As the event approaches, the groups urged stakeholders to commit to sustained action prioritizing children’s safety in digital spaces. “Standing with girls means standing firmly against online abuse, through policy, through practice, and in every corner of the internet where children learn, play, and connect,” Sanchez-Ogang added.