UAE offers AI technology to help PH curb online sex crimes

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr.  —Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has offered the Philippines its Artificial Intelligence Technology Provider Hub for free to better equip the national police in cracking down on online sex crimes.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) bared this development in a statement on Thursday, as it recounted PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr.’s meeting with UAE officials led by International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) Abu Dhabi National Central Bureau deputy director Lt. Col. Dana Almarzooqi on Wednesday.

Azurin, according to the PNP, stressed on the “vital role” of the PNP Directorate for Information and Communications Technology Management (DICTM) “in the efficient and effective delivery of crime prevention and crime solution services to the external and internal stakeholders of the PNP.”

The country’s top police officer cited the PNP’s goal of a secured, mobile, artificial intelligence-driven, real-time, technology (Smart) policing.

He had likewise hailed the role of the PNP’s Investigation and Detective Management unit through its Women and Children Protection Center in pushing back against child and women exploitation, as well as the manhunt for international fugitives listed in the Interpol Red Notice.

“Information about some foreigners engaged in online sexual exploitation was also raised, to which the UAE offered its Artificial Intelligence Technology Provider Hub for free to boost the PNP’s capabilities in combating online sexual abuse,” said the PNP.

In the Philippines, the proposed measure seeking to establish safeguards against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children lapsed into law in July last year.

The law, which augmented the responsibilities of social media websites and electronic service providers, penalizes the acts of producing, willingly accessing, and knowingly sharing any form of child sexual abuse and exploitative materials.

Evidence of such activities must be turned over to the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation for proper action.

READ: Fighting online evil: New law offers hope for PH kids’ protection 

Azurin noted that the PNP joining forces with the UAE will “greatly contribute” to its bid to clamp down crimes, particularly those involving drug trafficking and financial offenses.

He said that the PNP will do its part in “addressing the region’s most pressing crimes, especially those involving financial crimes and drug trafficking.”

“Our partnership with the UAE will greatly contribute to this effort,” Azurin stressed.

Among other issues the PNP chief had discussed with the Almarzooqi-led team were “emerging criminal trends” like money laundering and cybercrimes, including online gambling.

In view of this, the UAE officials had offered to include the PNP in training programs from other member states.

Holding quarterly meetings between the police of both nations and creating an International Investigation Affairs Bureau tasked to conduct probes and operations that will result in the arrest of criminals from both countries were likewise broached in the meeting, the PNP added. – With reports from Kimberly D. Albaño, INQUIRER.net intern

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