The amount of time children spend online has significantly increased in recent years, be it for learning or entertainment. As this prolonged exposure brought greater digital inclusion, it also made them vulnerable to cybercriminals.
As a strong advocate of online safety and children’s welfare, Globe teamed up with the National Privacy Commission (NPC) in the Kabataang Digital Program, which aims to spread awareness among kids on how they can protect themselves online.
At the 2021 Annual Young Privacy Advocates Summit, then NPC Commissioner Raymund Liboro shared that collaboration between the public and private sectors is integral in protecting Filipino children from threats online, which have become rampant amid the public’s reliance on digital tools under the pandemic.
With the Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) and the “Safe Space: A Kid’s Guide to Data Privacy” book, both Globe and the NPC seek to shine a light on the importance of data privacy in today’s landscape.
Globe Data Protection Officer Atty. Irish Salandanan-Almeida said, “With today’s landscape being heavily-reliant on digital, we recognize the importance of learning about data privacy at an early age, so when we learned that the NPC was looking for partners to provide learning materials for their Kabataang Digital Program, we jumped at the chance to support and provided them with what we had through the DTP.”
“Kabataang Digital” was a campaign created to provide age-appropriate support for children to help them easily understand the nature of privacy and the digital environment’s implications on their privacy rights. It also aims to raise awareness among parents and guardians, school authorities, and relevant parties regarding children’s privacy rights, risks, and possible harm when using information and communication technology.
The material titled “Safe Space,” co-created and published by Globe, the NPC and the Center for Art, New Ventures and Sustainable Development (CANVAS), was developed specifically for children aged 7 to 12 years old and is available in print and electronic formats.
It includes information on the importance of keeping personal data secure, how such information may be compromised, what the child and parents can do to avoid becoming a victim, and how to address the concern if it happens.
Complemented by DTP’s series of workshops, students, parents, and educators will be equipped with lessons on digital citizenship, online safety, and the responsible use of the internet. The modules tackle four major topics: digital insight, digital impact, digital ambition, and digital discernment.
A Parents Module is also included in the program. Notably, the DTP modules have been adopted by the Department of Education for inclusion in the values formation subject in public schools.
DTP is also available through short 3-5 minute shareable videos that are easy for the youth to understand on their own. They are available via youtube at https://www.youtube.com/user/GlobeCSR and through the Globe eLibrary at https://globeelibrary.ph.
“Beyond providing customer service, we, as a digital solutions group, believe that it is just as important to arm our youth with the right tools and knowledge to help protect themselves on the internet. This collaboration with the NPC gives us that opportunity to exercise this responsibility,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications.
Globe strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG No. 9, which highlights the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development, and UN SDG 17, which highlights the value of partnerships in achieving the sustainable development goals. Globe is committed to upholding the United Nations Global Compact principles and contributing to 10 UN SDGs.
For more information, visit www.globe.com.ph.
