Globe blocks violent websites, strengthens online safeguards

Globe Telecom is expanding its online safety measures by blocking hundreds of additional websites that host or stream illegal gore-related material and content depicting extreme violence.

The initiative supports recent directives from Philippine government agencies and broader industry efforts to limit access to harmful online content, particularly among children and young people.

Globe said proactive network-level blocking has long been part of its approach to online safety. In 2025, the company blocked 438,446 domains and URLs containing child sexual abuse and exploitation materials, or CSAEM.

The telecommunications company has invested more than US$2.7 million in advanced content-filtering and blocking systems. It has also expanded its safeguards beyond existing requirements to cover non-photographic imagery and, since August 2024, AI-generated child sexual abuse materials.

Following recent incidents involving extreme violence, Globe is now blocking hundreds of additional websites containing illegal gore-related material and other content that could encourage violent behavior.

“We have a responsibility to help make the online environment safer, especially for children and young people. As new risks emerge, we need to keep looking at what more we can do,” said Globe General Counsel Atty. Froilan Castelo.

“The recent school shooting incident is one opportunity where the industry can work together by removing sites that induce violence in our networks. At Globe, we are ready to do our part and protect children online,” he added.

Globe continues to coordinate with government agencies and local and international organizations, including the Internet Watch Foundation and the Canadian Centre for Child Protection. These partnerships support efforts to identify harmful and illegal online material and restrict public access to it.

The company said it would continue strengthening its safeguards as online threats evolve while supporting a broader and coordinated industry response.