The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) recently announced it is working with video-sharing network TikTok to boost efforts against online scams and other types of cybercrimes.
In a meeting held on December 18, 2024, at Camp Crame, Quezon City, both parties discussed key operational challenges and explored collaborative strategies to address online threats, including scams and other forms of cybercrime.
PNP-ACG Officer-in-Charge Colonel Rommel Batangan highlighted the increasing misuse of TikTok by cybercriminals. He is hoping the collaboration would yield to more arrest of individuals exploiting the dark side of technology.
“TikTok is one of the most widely used social media platforms today. Unfortunately, cybercriminals have also exploited this platform for scamming activities,“ Batangan said.
“This collaboration will significantly expedite our investigations and reinforce our mission of creating a safer cyberspace for everyone,” he added.
TikTok expressed its commitment to supporting the PNP-ACG by offering training sessions for its investigation teams.
“We aim for our law enforcement partners to have a clear understanding of our operating procedures and legal requirements,” said Elisabeth Potuijt, TikTok’s Law Enforcement Outreach Manager for Southeast Asia, in a post shared by the PNP-ACG on Facebook.
“This collaboration allows us to proactively address issues and emerging threats to ensure the safety of our users and communities,” she added.
According to Statista, as of January 2024, there were 49 million TikTok users in the Philippines, indicating an increase from the same month of the previous year. TikTok is one of the most used social media platforms among Filipino internet users.
