Ahead of Safer Internet Day, child and youth advocacy groups Plan International Pilipinas and Consuelo Foundation have raised alarms over the growing risks of AI-enabled online abuse targeting children. The organizations are convening lawmakers, tech companies, youth leaders, and civil society groups on February 24, 2026, for a Safer Internet Day Celebration titled “Beyond the Feed: Safeguarding Girls, Children, and Young People in AI-Driven Digital Spaces.”
The groups highlighted the rise of AI tools capable of generating hyper-realistic images, videos, and voice recordings, which are increasingly misused to exploit, harass, and extort children online. These include AI-generated sexual content, “deepfake” impersonations, grooming tactics, and scams that are often hard 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. Studies indicate that one in two children has experienced some form of online violence, with seven out of ten girls reporting abuse. Advocates warn that AI now lowers the barrier to producing manipulated sexual images and videos, putting children—particularly girls—at heightened risk of image-based abuse, cyberbullying, impersonation, and online blackmail.
The National Coordinating Center Against OSAEC-CSAEM notes that reported incidents are far lower than the actual occurrences, suggesting many cases remain unreported. Sanchez-Ogang emphasized, “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.”
The Safer Internet Day Celebration will go beyond awareness, focusing on practical solutions, including improving reporting systems, enhancing built-in safeguards, and equipping families and communities with tools to respond to online risks. The event will also highlight the perspectives of young people as active partners in shaping safer digital environments.
This initiative forms part of Plan International Pilipinas’ #StandWithGirls campaign, promoting long-term investment in girls’ rights, safety, and leadership. The organization will also mark 65 years of working with children in the Philippines this June, spotlighting initiatives like SAFE Online, SUFASEC, and Connect2Protect that strengthen online safety.
Dr. Mariella Castillo, Managing Director of Consuelo Foundation, added, “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.”
The organizations are inviting partners to collaborate via [email protected] and will launch a donation portal by the last week of February to support ongoing child protection efforts.
This celebration calls on all stakeholders to prioritize children’s safety in digital spaces and take meaningful action against online abuse, reinforcing that standing with girls is inseparable from advancing gender equality and preventing violence.
