THE National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) said it has partnered with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to increase the protection of persons with disabilities (PWDs) against online exploitation.
It added that the action was in response to “alarming social media contents that commodify persons with disabilities for views and profit."
“Addressing these matters, NCDA and CICC will work alongside enforcement agencies to map out multisectoral strategies and referral mechanisms that will strengthen online safety and protection of persons with disabilities,” the NCDA said in a statement on Thursday.
“Among these is the institutionalization of a streamlined referral process for swift sanctions and legal prosecution, where complaints will be forwarded directly to the Department of Justice, local government units, and other concerned law enforcement agencies. Initial legal proceedings against predators involved in serious exploitation cases will also be pursued to ensure that such abuses and predatory conduct are met with the full force of the law,” it added.
During an inter-agency meeting, objectification of individuals with Down syndrome, as well as fetishization of women with disabilities, were branded as emerging threats that circulate unchecked across digital platforms.
To address the issue, the CICC and the Department of Information and Communications Technology were asked to conduct comprehensive website audits, develop automated detection systems for online abuse, and utilize their monitoring infrastructure to guarantee rapid data preservation and the immediate takedown of violative accounts and re-created channels.
“NCDA also seeks to reshape the online discourse by collaborating with vloggers, content creators, and social media platforms to elevate public education campaigns, enforce ethical boundaries, and eradicate disability discrimination and exploitation,” the NCDA said.
