case study about cybercrime in philippines

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• Child Health Nurs Res
• v.27(1); 2021 Jan

Empathy, cyberbullying, and cybervictimization among Filipino adolescents

Tadena shannen.

1 Graduate Student, School of Nursing, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Korea

Shin-Jeong Kim

2 Professor, School of Nursing, Research Institute of Nursing Science, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Korea

Jungmin Lee

3 Lecturer, School of Nursing, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Korea

The purpose of this study was to gain insights into empathy, cyberbullying, and cybervictimization among Filipino adolescents.

The participants were 168 junior high school students in the 7th to 10th grades at a public high school in Cavite Province, Philippines. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, the Basic Empathy Scale, and Revised Cyber Bullying Inventory-II scores. The data were analyzed in SPSS using descriptive statistics (frequency and mean), the independent t-test, bivariate correlation, and one-way analysis of variance.

The degree of empathy did not show a statistically significant relationship with cyberbullying (r=−.07, p =.359) but did show a significant relationship with cybervictimization (r=.18, p =.025). Furthermore, cyberbullying had a statistically significant association with cybervictimization (r=.60, p <.001).

Although empathy does not necessarily affect cyberbullying, higher levels of empathy were found among cyberbullying victims. However, an alarming result of this study is the possibility that victims may become cyberbullies. Therefore, we should highlight empathy as part of efforts to prevent cyberbullying and to solve various cyber-related problems. Since cyberbullying and cybervictimization are closely related, it is important to focus on this relationship and to make multilateral efforts to ensure that cyberbullying does not lead to other negative issues.

INTRODUCTION

Cyberbullying is more harmful than other types of violence because a negative post or comment can reach a limit-less number of social media (SM) users, thereby increasing the opportunity of prolonged exposure and permanency [ 1 , 2 ]. Furthermore, younger generations currently tend to embrace the use of SM [ 1 ]. A term related to “cyberbullying” is “cybervictimization’, which refers to the experience of being victimized through the use of electronic information on the internet [ 2 ]. Cyberbullying is considered to be a form of violent behavior; therefore, it is expected that cyberbullying causes detrimental effects for both the victim and the perpetrator.

The use of the internet for SM has steadily grown over time. As of January 2020, the estimated number of active SM users worldwide was 3.8 billion, reflecting an increase from the number of 3.4 billion in January 2019 [ 3 ]. In particular, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of digital platform users [ 4 ]. Individuals are now actively posting their new achievements during the pandemic lockdown and expressing their opinions more vocally than before, as SM is now the most frequently used communication method for most individuals [ 4 ]. One study showed that as SM use increases, students who are prone to bullying are more likely to face cyberbullying [ 4 ]. There can be a limitless exchange of information among the SM users, and this information can sometimes be used in negative ways that may cause harm or make someone feel harassed. The act of harassing or harming someone via the use of SM is called cyberbullying. Cyberbullying can happen by sending harassing messages, posting derogatory comments on SM sites, posting humiliating pictures, and threatening someone electronically [ 5 ].

Victims of cyberbullying usually report feelings of depression, anger, frustration, and even suicidal thoughts. Cyberbullying has been found to be linked to low self-esteem, family problems, academic problems, violence, and delinquent behaviors [ 1 , 4 ]. In general, the estimated number of adolescents experiencing cyberbullying is around 10%-40%, although the percentage depends on age and the definition of cyberbullying used in the study [ 1 , 2 ]. In the United States, among a sample of 5,700 middle to high school students, 33.8% admitted to being cyberbullied, while 11.5% admitted to being perpetrators of cyberbullying [ 1 ]. In South Korea, 10.8% of 50,000 elementary to high school students experienced cyberbullying [ 6 ]. In a survey conducted in the Philippines, it was found that 80% of 1,143 respondents aged 13-16 years experienced cyberbullying [ 7 ].

A psychological factor related to the development of violent behavior is having a low empathy level. Empathy can be defined using two dimensions: cognitive and affective. Cognitive empathy is the ability to communicate, tolerate, recognize, and perceive emotions, while affective empathy refers to the ability to perceive and share both the positive and negative emotions of other people [ 8 ]. A study showed that lower levels of empathy increased the development of violent or aggressive behaviors, while a higher level of empathy decreased the development of violent or aggressive behaviors [ 9 ]. Since cyberbullying is considered to be a violent behavior, it is possible that empathy influences cyberbullying.

Adolescence is an important developmental stage when adolescents transition from childhood to adulthood. The changes experienced by adolescents also affect their roles in their family, with friends, and in their communities. Thus, it is vital to pay special attention to adolescents [ 10 ]. The parents of Filipino adolescents set the expectation that they are to be aware of their actions and the consequences corresponding to those actions [ 11 ]. Camaraderie is a factor valued by Filipino adolescents, which is why it is natural for them to be friendly, resulting in the expectation that they know how to empathize with someone [ 11 ]. Nonetheless, little research has discussed Filipino adolescents’ characteristics, and although favorable characteristics have been mentioned, there has been an increase in cases of cyberbullying in the Philippines [ 7 ].

It has been reported that inhabitants of the Philippines spend an average of 4 hours a day using SM, exceeding the values reported for other countries [ 3 ]. Since prolonged exposure to SM can increase victimization, Filipinos may be exposed to the harmful effects of SM for a longer time than others [ 1 ]. Although there has been an increase in the number of cases of cyberbullying in the Philippines, little research has tackled this issue. Because of the detrimental effects of cyberbullying, it is important for adolescents to be aware of its seriousness and the importance of putting an end to this violent behavior. Since adolescence is a vital stage of life, it is important to properly guide adolescents throughout this period. To the researchers’ knowledge, no published study has yet investigated empathy among Filipino adolescents and its possible influence on cyberbullying and cybervictimization.

The purpose of this study was to investigate empathy, cyberbullying, and cybervictimization among Filipino adolescents, with the following specific goals:

• To identify the degree of empathy, cyberbullying, and cybervictimization among junior high school students.
• To identify differences in empathy, cyberbullying, and cybervictimization according to participants’ general characteristics.
• To identify the relationships among empathy, cyberbullying, and degree of cybervictimization.

2. Theoretical Framework

Two theoretical frameworks were used to support the study: the social learning theory developed by Albert Bandura [ 12 ] and the general strain theory developed by Robert Agnew [ 13 ] ( Figure 1 ).

Empathy, cyberbullying, and cybervictimization framework.

Social learning theory [ 12 ] reflects the understanding that a person learns and develops attitudes, behaviors, and emotional reactions by observing others’ actions. It combines cognitive and behavioral learning theory. Cyberbullying incidents and SM may influence ones’ empathy due to what a person observes or experiences through SM. Along with other factors that may also affect someone’s empathy, a person might, or might not, engage in cyberbullying.

General strain theory [ 13 ] supports the assumption that negative experiences can lead to strain or stress. Victimization is considered a stressful experience, and according to this theory, experiences of stress or strain may cause a person to perform a positive or negative action to decrease the stress or strain. Within this framework, the study used general strain theory to investigate whether cybervictimization increased victims’ likelihood to engage in cyberbullying as a response to the strain that they experienced.

1. Study Design

This research is a descriptive study using a questionnaire to investigate empathy, cyberbullying, and cybervictimization among Filipino adolescents.

2. Participants

The participants were junior high school students who were currently enrolled in a public secondary school in Cavite Province, Philippines. Junior high school is the term used in the Philippines to describe grade 7 to 10 students, whereas in South Korea, the term middle or high school is used. The participants were students from grades 7 to 10 who were aged 12 to 19 years old and used SM applications. The school was selected using convenience sampling. The sample size for the correlation was calculated using G*Power 3.1.9.2. The results indicated that 164 participants were needed for an effect size of .25, a significance level of .05, and a test power of .95. Anticipating an 80% response rate, 201 participants were recruited. Responses from 168 participants were analyzed after excluding uncompleted questionnaires.

3. Measurements

The Basic Empathy Scale was developed by Jolliffe and Farrington [ 14 ] and validated among 363 adolescents (grade 10) in the United Kingdom. The scale is a 20-item instrument with two subscales (cognitive empathy with 9 items, Cronbach’s α = .79; affective empathy with 11 items, Cronbach’s α = .85). It is a 5-point Likert-type scale (strongly disagree=1, disagree=2, neutral=3, agree=4, and strongly agree=5). Eight items are reverse-scored. A higher score indicates a higher empathy level [ 14 ]. For the current study, four items were omitted to obtain a more acceptable Cronbach’s α. Each of the eight items was used to measure cognitive empathy and affective empathy. Cronbach’s α values of .67 for the complete empathy scale, .51 for cognitive empathy, and .52 for affective empathy were recorded. Cronbach’s α values ranging from .50 to .75 are generally accepted because these values indicate moderate reliability [ 15 ]. The researcher conducted a pilot study without omitting the four questions and recorded a Cronbach’s α of .79 for the complete empathy scale, .67 for cognitive empathy, and .65 for affective empathy. After omitting the four questions, Cronbach’s α values of .81 for the complete empathy scale, .80 for cognitive empathy, and .66 for affective empathy were recorded.

2) Cyberbullying and cybervictimization

The Revised Cyber Bullying (Cyber Victim) Inventory-II is the second revision of the tool developed by Topcu and Erdur-Baker [ 16 ] and validated among 1,803 high school students attending public high school in Ankara, Turkey. The purpose of the revision was to update and eliminate specific technology names. Consisting of 10 items, participants rate each item twice (once for reporting cyberbullying experience and once for reporting cybervictimization) on a 4-point rating scale (1=never, 2=once, 3=twice or three times, 4=more than three times). Scores are added to achieve the total score in each form. A total score of 10 means being not involved in cyberbullying or cybervictimization, respectively, whereas a higher score indicates more frequent engagement in cyberbullying and cybervictimization. The Cronbach’s α coefficients were .80 for the cybervictimization part and .79 for the cyberbullying part [ 17 ]. In this study, Cronbach’s α values of .80 for cyberbullying and .75 for cybervictimization were recorded. A pilot study recorded a Cronbach’s α of .88 for the entire questionnaire, .57 for the cyberbullying subscale, and .92 for the cybervictimization subscale.

3) Content validity index

The modified questionnaire used in this study to measure empathy was reviewed and approved by a group of experts, including two professors from the child and adolescent department and three nurses who had both worked in a pediatric unit at a university hospital for over 5 years and had doctoral degrees in nursing. The content validity index was .91 using the rating of item relevance.

4. Data Collection Method

After receiving approval to conduct the study from the Institutional Review Board of Hallym University, the researcher coordinated with a teacher at a public secondary school in the Philippines. The researcher was endorsed by the school principal, and a letter describing the timetable for gathering data, the research tools, the purpose of the study, and permission to conduct the study was personally given. After receiving permission to conduct the study, endorsement letters, student and parental consent forms were distributed to the students and were signed by both the student and parents as proof that they agreed to participate in the study. After receiving the consent forms, a pilot study was conducted among two students from each grade level to assess the validity of the tool. After validation, the researcher collected data by distributing the questionnaires, giving instructions, and remaining in the classroom for the duration of questionnaire completion be able to respond to any questions or clarification from the participants. It took around 15 minutes for each class to complete the questionnaires. The collected questionnaires were kept and locked in the cabinet of the corresponding author’s research room and were not accessible to any other researchers.

5. Ethical Considerations

The two instruments used in this study were approved for use by the original authors through email. In addition, the study was conducted after receiving approval from the Institutional Review Board of Hallym University (HIRB-2019-092). The study was conducted at a public secondary school. The researcher explained the purpose and procedure of the research to the participants who agreed to participate by completing an informed consent form. Assurance was given that the results of the study would only be used for the current study and that the anonymity of the participants would be maintained. Participants were provided snacks worth about $1 per person as compensation.

6. Statistical Analysis

Data were analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 25 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Participants’ demographic characteristics were analyzed in terms of percentage, frequency, and mean±standard deviation. The Shapiro-Wilk hypothesis test and the Levene test for equality of variance were performed to confirm the normality of the distribution and within-group normality. The t-test and analysis of variance were conducted to identify differences in empathy, cyberbullying, and cybervictimization according to participants’ characteristics. The Duncan multiple range test was used to determine specific differences between pairs of means. Bivariate correlation analysis was conducted to assess the relationships among empathy, cyberbullying, and cybervictimization

1. Descriptive Characteristics of the Participants

The descriptive characteristics of the participants are shown in Table 1 . Of the 168 participants, 44.0%(n=74) were male and 56.0%(n=94) were female, and their ages were 12-19 years old, with a mean of 14.3±1.4 years. Forty-four (26.2%) of the participants were in the 10th grade, followed by 25.6 % (n=43) in eighth grade, 24.4% (n=41) in seventh grade, and 23.8% (n=40) in the ninth grade. The most commonly utilized SM platform by the participants was Facebook (98.8%; n= 166). The average time of SM usage per day was 296.1±266.1 minutes (4.93 hours or almost 5 hours). Among the 168 participants, the majority used SM applications more than seven times per day (n=57, 34.3%), followed by three to four times (n=46, 27.7%), five to six times (n=39, 23.5%), and one to two times (n=24, 14.5%). The cell phone was the primary device used to check SM platforms (n=154, 91.7%). The predominant purpose of using SM was to watch videos (n=121, 72.0%), while the least common purpose was to read articles (n=62, 36.9%).

Demographic Characteristics of Participants ( N =168)

SM, social media; SNS, social networking site.

2. Degree of Empathy, Cyberbullying, and Cybervictimization

The content, mean score, and standard deviation of the Basic Empathy Scale and Revised Cyber Bullying Inventory-II are presented in Table 2 . The total mean score for empathy was 3.4±0.4 out of 5, indicating a high level of empathy among the participants. The item with the highest mean score was “I can understand my friend’s happiness when she/he does well at something” (3.7±1.1). Followed by “When someone is feeling ‘down’ I can usually understand how they feel” (3.6±1.2), “I often become sad when watching sad things on or in films” (3.6±1.3), “I can often understand how people are feeling even before they tell” (3.7±1.1), and “I can usually work out when people are cheerful” (3.6±1.1). The item with the lowest mean score was “I find it hard to know when my friends are frightened” (2.8±1.1). The average score was divided by 10 which is the number of items. Thus, for cyberbullying was 1.6±0.5, and that for cybervictimization was 1.7±0.6 out of 4, which indicated the existence of cyberbullying and cybervictimization, with a slightly higher score for the latter. “Insulting someone [on the internet]” was the item with the highest average score (1.9±1.0 for cyberbullying and 2.1±1.1 for cybervictimization), followed by “taking over the password of someone’s account [on the internet]”(1.8±0.9 for cyberbullying and 1.8±0.9 for cybervictimization). “Creating a humiliating website [on the internet]” showed the lowest mean score (1.1±0.5 for cyberbullying and 1.2±0.6 for cybervictimization).

Empathy, Cyberbullying, and Cybervictimization of the Participants ( N =168)

3. Differences in the Level of Empathy, Cyberbullying, and Cybervictimization According to Participants’ General Characteristics

Patterns in empathy, cyberbullying and cybervictimization according to participants’ general characteristics are shown in Table 3 . Total empathy, cognitive empathy, and affective empathy were significantly higher among female participants than among male participants (t=3.82, p <.001, t=2.19, p =.030, and t=4.05, p =.001, respectively). However, there were no significant differences in cyberbullying and cybervictimization by gender (t=0.20, p =.838, and t=0.35, p =.724, respectively).

Differences in Participants’ Empathy, Cyberbullying, and Cybervictimization According to Their Characteristics ( N =168)

There was a statistically significant difference in total empathy and both cognitive and affective empathy according to grade level (F=3.90, p =.010, F=3.80, p =.012, and F=3.45, p = .010, respectively). Empathy was significantly higher among grade 10 students than among students of the other grade levels, but the Duncan post hoc test showed no significant difference in the mean scores. In addition, participants’ grade showed a statistically significant association with cyberbullying (F=3.03, p =.031). Cyberbullying was significantly more common among students in grade 8 than among students of the other grade levels, but the Duncan post hoc test showed no significance. In addition, cybervictimization showed a statistically significant difference according to grade level (F=7.66, p <.001), and was also higher in grade 8 participants, but the Duncan post hoc test showed no significance.

Statistically significant differences in total empathy and both cognitive and affective empathy were found according to participants’ age (t=2.86, p =.005, t=2.67, p =.008, and t=2.51, p =.013, respectively). There were no significant differences in cyberbullying or cybervictimization by age (t=0.59, p =.558, and t=1.13, p =.262, respectively). Finally, there were no significant differences in any dependent variables according to the daily use of SM.

4. Correlations among Empathy, Cyberbullying, and Cybervictimization

Cybervictimization was significantly correlated with participants’ total empathy (r=.18, p =.025) and cognitive empathy (r=.17, p =.030), but not with affective empathy (r=.12, p =.114). Total empathy was not significantly correlated with cyberbullying (r=−.07, p =.359). Cyberbullying was significantly correlated with cybervictimization (r=.60, p <.001) ( Table 4 ).

Correlations among Empathy, Cyberbullying, and Cybervictimization ( N =168)

The Philippines has a total population of 108 million, of whom 73 million are active SM users [ 3 , 18 ]. In the current study, Facebook was the most used SM application used by adolescents. In 2020, Facebook had approximately of 2.4 billion monthly users worldwide, thus making it the most popular SM application [ 3 ]. In the Philippines, Facebook is currently the most popular SM application, with at least 70 million users, and most SM users use cellphones to access SM; this trend was also found in a study conducted among Filipino adolescents [ 18 ]. The Philippines have had the longest average daily time of SM use for 4 consecutive years, which reached 4 hours in 2020 [ 3 ]. This finding is in line with the current study, which recorded an average of almost 5 hours of SM use. Most respondents used SM to watch videos (n=121) and for communication (n=106). Watching videos and communication were also the top 2 purposes of using SM in an earlier study [ 18 ].

Filipinos have been observed to value camaraderie and find it natural to be friendly to others, for which reason they place considerable importance on interpersonal relationships [ 11 ]. The importance placed on friendship may be interpreted as reflecting a high level of empathy among Filipino adolescents. The existence of cyberbullying and cybervictimization was evident according to the findings of the study. Even with the increase in cyberbullying in the Philippines, some undocumented cases may exist due to victims’ fear of their situation being publicized. Some schools also tend to under-report cyberbullying due to fears of tarnishing the school’s reputation [ 19 ].

Demographic characteristics are believed to possibly influence empathy, cyberbullying, and cybervictimization. A significant relationship was found between empathy and gender in the current study, with female adolescents scoring higher for empathy than male adolescents. This may result from gender expectations in Filipino culture between the two genders. Female adolescents are expected to help their mothers with chores and to take care of their siblings, which fosters nurturing characteristics and helps them to understand different emotions. In contrast, male adolescents are trained to be logical and independent, and to keep their emotions to themselves [ 20 ]. This may explain why the female participants in this study had a higher degree of empathy than the male participants. However, no significant relationship was found between cyberbullying or cybervictimization and gender, similar to another study conducted in the Philippines [ 21 ]. These results show that when considering factors influencing empathy, other demographic characteristics such as age, educational level, and economic level must also be considered, as well as gender. Thus, further research is needed to predict the variables that affect Filipino adolescents’ empathy regarding cyberbullying and cybervictimization.

The current study established a significant relationship between age and empathy. Another study also reported a similar result, and this relationship reflects the development of empathy, which grows with age until it reaches full development in adolescence [ 22 ]. However, some studies have reported a decrease in cognitive empathy and an increase in affective empathy in the elderly. A decrease in cognitive empathy may be related to reduced activity in brain areas associated with cognitive function [ 23 ].

No significant relationship was found between age and cybervictimization or cyberbullying in this study. This finding is similar to a study conducted among Filipino university students, where it was found that cyberbullying and cybervictimization experiences of students were not significantly related to their age [ 24 ].

There is scarce evidence regarding the relationships among grade level, empathy, cyberbullying, and cybervictimization. The current study identified a significant relationship between grade level and empathy, as well as with cyberbullying and cybervictimization. A study among grade 7-12 students found that the cognitive empathy of victims of cyberbullying was high [ 25 ]. However, in a comparison of cognitive empathy in cyberbully-victims (a term for victims who also engaged in cyberbullying) and bystanders, lower grade levels had higher levels of cognitive empathy than other groups, while higher grade levels had higher levels of cognitive empathy only among cyberbully-victims, but not bystanders. Furthermore, it was found that victimization increased after grade 7 and continued through grade 12 [ 25 ].

Empathy has consistently shown a negative relationship with antisocial behavior [ 15 ], implying that empathy may have a possible influence on cyberbullying. A study investigating the relationship between cyberbullying and empathy found out that a low level of both cognitive and affective empathy predicted cyberbullying [ 26 ]. The current study found no significant relationship between empathy and cyberbullying. The same result was found in another study, and a possible explanation for this result is that even though the participants had a high empathy level, which may make them sensitive to others’ emotions, they may have viewed cyberbullying as a normal phenomenon [ 27 ]. As such, it is crucial to provide Filipino adolescents with the necessary information to protect themselves against cyberbullying. In addition, active interest and participation of parents and teachers are needed for the development of programs, practices, and policies to protect and support this population from this problem.

Few studies have reported a relationship between empathy and cybervictimization. It was found that cybervictims scored higher than cyberbullies and uninvolved students or bystanders in both cognitive and affective empathy [ 28 ]. One study reported higher affective empathy among cybervictims [ 29 ]. Another study reported significant relationships of both cognitive and affective empathy with cybervictimization [ 30 ]. In the current study, total empathy and cognitive empathy, but not affective empathy, had significant relationships with cybervictimization. This finding of distinct relationships of cognitive and affective empathy with cybervictimization was not found in previous research. The significant relationship between cybervictimization and cognitive empathy may be explained by cybervictims’ capability to understand the perspective of others, while still having problematic social relationships, as shown by the lack of a significant association between affective empathy and cybervictimization. Furthermore, affective empathy is important in establishing social relationships [ 27 ].

Taking revenge is a possible response of a cybervictim to his or her bullies. The desire to take revenge may lead a cybervictim to engage in cyberbullying [ 30 ]. Another explanation is the application of general strain theory, which was developed by Agnew [ 13 ]. Greater exposure or experiences of cyberbullying may increase the likelihood that cybervictims will engage in cyberbullying to release their stress. This is an example of a negative response to strain. A study conducted in the Philippines and Turkey reported a positive relationship between cyberbullying and cybervictimization [ 21 ]. The current study yielded a significant relationship between cyberbullying and cybervictimization.

Several limitations were found in this study. The first is the length of the duration of data collection, which resulted in a small sample of participants from a single school. The second is that the researcher used convenience sampling to choose where to conduct the study and the participants to be included. Participants were picked by the teachers due to their availability and knowledge regarding SM use. The third is the use of a self-report survey. There is a possibility that students over-reported or misreported some data (e.g., SM time usage per day and the reasons for SM usage). The questionnaires used may have made the students feel discomfort, anxiety, and fear due to the questions. The fourth is the scarcity of articles about empathy, cyberbullying, cybervictimization, and characteristics of Filipino adolescents. The fifth is the reliability of the Basic Empathy Scale. This study recorded Cronbach’s α values of .67 for the total Basic Empathy Scale, .51 for the cognitive empathy subscale, and .52 for the affective empathy subscale. This is considered a low reliability score, but according to a book by Hinton et al. [ 15 ], a Cronbach’s α value ranging from .50 to .75 is accepted because it indicates moderate reliability.

Despite the limitations of this study, it still made a pertinent contribution to the study of empathy, cyberbullying, and cybervictimization.

The findings of this study shed important light on the issues of cyberbullying and cybervictimization, which could become more problematic in the COVID-19 pandemic. Empathy was not found to be negatively associated with cyberbullying. This can be explained by a lack of self-awareness, because some SM users post or send whatever they want without thinking about whether the content can harm others [ 1 ]. It is also possible that cyberbullying was viewed as a normal phenomenon, especially as SM use has increased over time. Cognitive empathy, but not affective empathy, was significantly associated with cybervictimization. It is possible for cybervictims to understand the emotions of others but still have difficulty in establishing social relationships or feeling the emotions of other people. The finding of this study that cyberbullying was significantly associated with cybervictimization is alarming. This relationship may be explained by the stress that cybervictims experience and their desire to take revenge on the perpetrators, especially since SM can be anonymously.

We expect that the findings of this study may contribute to the prevention of cyber-related problems among adolescents as it offers basic guidelines. Since adolescence can be a confusing period due to changes and transitions from childhood to adulthood, adolescents deserve special attention and guidance from people surrounding them. It is vital for parents, teachers, and even guardians to establish open and good communication with adolescents to properly guide them towards betterment. At this time, with one’s capacity to empathize, it is possible to become a bystander or a defender of a victim, for which reason we should highlight empathy in efforts to prevent and solve various types of cyber-related problems. We also suggest that as cyberbullying and cybervictimization are closely related, it is important to focus on this relationship and to make multilateral efforts to ensure that cyberbullying does not lead to other negative problems.

Acknowledgments

Conflict of interest

No existing or potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Data availability

Please contact the corresponding author for data availability.

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Philippines sees increase in cyber tip reports in 2021; unicef calls for collective action on safer internet day, on the occasion of safer internet day.

MANILA, 9 February 2022— To commemorate Safer Internet Day, UNICEF calls on increased protection of children online amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A report from the Department of Justice – Office of Cybercrime saw an exponential increase in cyber tip reports for the Philippines to 2.8 million in 2021 from 1.2 million in 2020 and 400,000 in 2019. According to the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center, there were 131 children rescued, 16 perpetrators arrested, and 49 operations conducted from January to August 2021.

UNICEF joins the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – Inter-Agency Council Against Child Pornography (IACACP), the SaferKidsPH consortium, and the Child Rights Network in celebrating #SaferInternetDay with the theme: Click, Respect, Connect – CRC Next Level: Ligtas na Ugnayan Online.

According to the Philippine Kids Online Survey, a study conducted by the DSWD-IACACP with support from UNICEF, the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has had a profound impact on the way that children use the Internet, specifically the length of time they may spend online, and the resulting levels of risk to which they may be exposed.

“We have heard from children and young people that while the Internet poses opportunities for growth and learning, it can also become a source of threat and potential abuse. Thus, it is imperative that we continue our efforts in safeguarding our children in digital platforms and supporting the government in employing a whole-of-government approach to do so,” said UNICEF Philippines Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov.

UNICEF leads the implementation of the SaferKidsPH programme, an Australian government initiative. The pioneering consortium aims to reduce the online sexual abuse and exploitation of children in the Philippines and works with various sectors to ensure that children are safe and protected online.

Month-long activities for #SaferInternetDay include a forum with internet service providers (ISPs) on technologies to combat and address online sexual abuse and exploitation of children; a webinar on child online protection by the Council for the Welfare of Children, SaferKidsPH, and UNICEF; Safer Internet Hour on Twitter by the Child Rights Network and UNICEF; and interactive activities in social media tailored for child rights advocates, parents, caregivers, and children.

UNICEF calls for the renewed commitment of the government and civil society to synergize and to put children’s rights and protection at the forefront of digital efforts. UNICEF is urging the passage of a bill on online sexual abuse and exploitation of children at both chambers of Congress and its effective implementation if enacted.

To join UNICEF in making the Internet safer for kids, visit  https://www.saferkidsph.org/help-stop-osaec/ . For more information on Safer Internet Day activities , you may visit the Facebook page of the  SaferKidsPH ,  Child Rights Network  and the  Inter-Agency Council Against Child Pornography .

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PNP: Over 16K cybercrime cases probed from January to August 2023

The Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) said it handled a total of 16,297 cybercrime cases from January to August 2023.

This has resulted in the rescue of 4,092 victims of drug operations and human trafficking and the arrest of 397 individuals.

In a statement, the PNP-ACG said the cases this year have evolved to include the "exploitation" of new technologies such as Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), cryptocurrencies, and online casinos to defraud unsuspecting victims in addition to the usual cases of cybercrime.

It was able to secure 19 Warrants to Search, Seize, and Examine Computer Data; serve 214 arrest warrants; and conduct 140 entrapment operations. At least 24 cases are ongoing investigations with other units and agencies.

PNP chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the operations against cybercrime groups are  results of the police "focused agenda in advancing our information and communication technology for the conduct of honest and aggressive law enforcement operations."

The PNP reported in July a 152% increase in cybercrimes in the National Capital Region from January to June 2023 —6,250 cases compared to the 2,477 cases in the same period in 2022.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission also conducted a conference to address the text scams which continued to proliferate despite the passage of the SIM Registration law. —LDF, GMA Integrated News

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Cybercrime on the rise over the last 6 years

MANILA, Philippines — As the number of internet users in the country increases, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has also recorded a consistent upsurge in cases of cybercrime over the last six years.

Data from the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) showed that online libel cases soared from only 22 incidents in 2013 to 661 from January to June 2019; as well as online scam cases from 42 to 550; photo and video voyeurism cases from 10 to 356; and computer-related identity theft cases from 23 to 258.

Cases of online threat, meanwhile, rose from 29 to 217 during the period; system interference or hacking from 12 to 193; unjust vexation from one reported case to 148; cases of illegal access from zero incident to 133; automated teller machine (ATM) and credit card fraud from one reported case to 59; and robbery with intimidation from three to 35 incidents.

Maj. Levy Lozada, spokesperson of the PNP-ACG, attributed the swelling figures to the rising number of internet users in the country.

“Of course kapag maraming gumagamit ng internet, ‘yung vulnerable community mas dumadami, lalo na kung hindi sila aware kung ano ‘yung mga do’s and don’t’s sa internet,” he said in an interview with INQUIRER.net.

(Of course when the number of Internet users increase, the vulnerable community also spreads, especially if they are not aware of the do’s and don’t’s in the internet.)

Lozada’s statement supports the results of a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations for the first quarter of 2019. The survey released in June,  showed that 46 percent of Filipino adults are internet users.

READ: 46% of Filipino adults are Internet users, survey says

In January, the Digital 2019 report by the creative agency We Are Social and social media management platform Hootsuite likewise showed that the Philippines ranked as the top country worldwide in time spent surfing the internet and social media.

READ: Filipinos spend the most time on Internet, social media worldwide — study

Cybercriminals’ favorite

If all reported cases from 2013 until June 2019 will be consolidated, the data will show that online libel is the cybercrime most committed in the country, with 3,291 incidents recorded nationwide during the period.

This is followed by online scam (2,970), photo and video voyeurism (1,427), computer-related identity theft (1,263), online threat (1,187), system interference or hacking (712), unjust vexation (511), illegal access (346), robbery with intimidation (273), and ATM and credit card fraud (269).

According to Lozada, cybercriminals take advantage of the internet since it can be easily accessed, and because of the anonymity one can possess upon its usage, which he said is the “favorite” factor of offenders in committing illegal acts.

He added that the level of knowledge of Filipinos on cybercrime differs due to the geographical condition of the country, with the awareness level possibly high in urban areas and low in far-flung places.

To address this situation, he said the PNP-ACG is regularly conducting seminars and awareness campaigns in schools and communities to prevent the public from falling prey to these crooked activities, which he said now includes new moduses such as business email compromise and those involving the use of bitcoin.

Currently, he said the PNP-ACG has not monitored a group or syndicate preying on internet users, since most of the cases reported to police are committed by individuals acting on their own.

Recruitment to terrorism

Aside from typical crimes committed online, Lozada said even terrorists have taken advantage of social media in recruiting Filipino youth into their groups and in spreading propaganda to earn the support of  terror groups  in other countries.

He said this has been a practice of local and international terrorists over the previous years since the advent of social media, and that the youth who lack basic education may potentially be more prone to this recruitment.

“Nako-convince nila lalo na ‘yung mga bata pa. Nagiging radicalized. ‘Yun ang trend nila (They convince some people, especially the youth. They become radicalized. That’s their trend),” he said.

While the PNP-ACG holds no data on the recruitment of youth into terror groups, Lozada suspects that online recruitment, as in typical cybercrime cases, has also been expanding.

There are ways for the police to locate terrorists recruiting youth into their movement, but this, he admitted, is also a “challenge” to the police.

If he was to rate the capabilities of the PNP-ACG in combating cybercrime, Lozada said the unit will be graded eight out of 10, as he claimed the group currently has the necessary equipment that meet international standards.

He added that personnel of the PNP-ACG also often receive training from foreign counterparts, mostly from Asian countries.

Despite this, Lozada said the police unit is faced by the challenge of procuring additional equipment that has been upgraded over the past years.

“May mga bagong technology na wala pa tayo as of now. ‘Yun yung mga hindi pa natin [makuha] like halimbawa the advent of Internet of Things. Medyo wala pa kami sa mga aspects na ‘yun (There are new technology that we still do not have as of now. We somehow lack in that aspect),” he said.

Amid the thousands of cybercrime cases being recorded in the country, it seems the PNP-ACG is also embattled with yet another setback — the lack of personnel.

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The PNP mandates that the ACG should have 800 officers to adequately address the perils of cybercrime. But as of August 2019, Lozada said the unit only has over 200 members nationwide. Around 90 of these personnel are assigned at the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

On Wednesday, October 16, 67 recruits of the PNP-ACG are set to take their oath and augment the police unit. /muf

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Cybersecurity and cybercrime in the Philippines - statistics & facts

Heightened cyber incidents triggered by the pandemic, can cyber-attacks be prevented, key insights.

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Remote working Filipinos & students studying from home are at extra cybercrime risk now. Source: Shutterstock

Phishing scams dominate the Philippines cybercrime landscape

By Joe Devanesan | 19 August, 2020

• Cybercrime in the Philippines is on a rapid rise, with phishing campaigns alone up 200% since the country went into lockdown in March

In today’s highly-digitalized society, wanton cybercrimes have proven to be difficult to eradicate, and the cyberattack threat matrix just got riskier when recent quarantine and lockdown restrictions forced everyone indoors. Not only did emboldened bad actors crawl out of the woodwork with even more potent malware and phishing scams, but the targeting of institutions and work-from-home staff is at an all-time high.

In the Philippines , the pandemic has brought out the worst in some opportunists, and in the virtual realm, it appears phishing attacks are the cyber weapon of choice. The Philippines has been trying to enforce legislation on engineered phishing scams for years now , but with so many Filipinos online all the time during the pandemic, the National Bureau of Investigation’s Cybercrime Division recorded a 200% increase since the lockdowns started back in March.

Phishing is being listed by Philippine authorities as the top cybercrime being committed in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by online selling scams and the spread of fake news. But phishing schemes– where scammers hijack the identity of a trusted person or institution in order to gain access to personal or sensitive data– is the undisputed number one cybercrime in the archipelago.

Phishing scams attempt to take advantage of a perceived lack of digital literacy in the country, sending emails, calls, or text messages from (often near-identical to the source they are imitating) false or stolen identities, in order to convince the victim to click on fraudulent links, or otherwise divulge personal information somehow including data such as passwords, bank account information, and other confidential data.

Remote working employees and businesses are often targeted, with increasingly personalized virtual lures. And large corporations and financial institutions are not exempt due to their heightened cybersecurity measures , if anything they are more at risk as bad actors will often imitate the bank or financial service to gain access to your financial information.

Such was the case at US financial services giant Wells Fargo, where around 15,000 customers were targeted in a clever phishing campaign where unwitting victims would be duped into adding a calendar invite that would lead to the phishing page.

Cybercrime in the Philippines

A worrying trend that cybersecurity observers in the Philippines have noticed is that some of the larger organizations and individuals might not be reporting incidents of their personal data being breached, owing to stigma in the country that could view a loss of such critical data as an indicator of disrepute. Some victims might choose to keep mum on a phishing attack, electing to protect their reputations instead.

Hence the phishing and cybercrime rates might be even higher than previously reported, and Filipino cybersecurity practitioners state that many businesses are not aware of the full extent of the threats against them, including some companies who place the fault on the users who clicked on suspicious items, and did not carry out any further investigation.

The co-founder of the National Computer Emergency Response Team ( NCERT ) Division under the Cybersecurity Bureau, Milo Pacamara, warns Philippine digital citizens to constantly be vigilant especially when required to hand out sensitive data, including from what looks like a trustworthy source that has been used many times.

GOOGLE AND KPMG EXPERTS ON COVID-19 CYBER SCAMS

Joe Devanesan | 18 May, 2020

Pacamara says sometimes, even opening a document or activating a cloud-based application could trigger an unwanted data download or transfer. “Some files and links are designed with embedded scripts to run silently upon click and execution to run malicious command in the background and could scrape your phone or computer with vital data,” revealed Pacamara.

With cybercrime on the upswing everywhere, it is up to the individuals and vulnerable target organizations to ensure that their cybersecurity is up-to-date, staying appraised of the latest in cyber scams and emerging threats, building up their resiliency to withstand the post-pandemic cyberthreat climate.

By Joe Devanesan

Joe's interest in tech began when, as a child, he first saw footage of the Apollo space missions. He still holds out hope to either see the first man on Mars, or Jetson’s-style flying cars in his lifetime.

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The Crime of Identity Theft and Fake Accounts in the Philippines

The advent of technology blurs the line between crimes committed in the physical world and crimes committed in the electronic world. In the United States of America (U.S.), the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) has a dedicated one-stop resource, the  IdentityTheft.gov , for identity theft victims (we are unaware if the  Philippine National Privacy Commission  has a similar resource). Identity theft, according to the FTC, happens when someone uses your Social Security number or other  personal information  to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund. The applicable laws on identity theft in the Philippines are discussed below.

I. IDENTIFY THEFT AS A CYBERCRIME

Under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 ( Republic Act No. 10175 ),  computer-related identity theft  is defined as “the intentional acquisition, use, misuse, transfer, possession, alteration or deletion of identifying information belonging to another, whether natural or juridical, without right” [Sec. 4(b)(3)]. Note that the identity theft covers identifying information , which refers to any name or number that may be used alone or in conjunction with any other information to identify any specific individual, including any of the following:

• 1. Name, date of birth, driver’s license number, passport number or tax identification number;
• 2. Unique biometric data, such as fingerprint or other unique physical representation;
• 3. Unique electronic identification number, address or routing code; and
• 4. Telecommunication identifying information or access device .

Note also that the crime of identity theft does not only include the  acquisition , possession,  use  and  misuse  of identifying information, but also the alteration or  deletion  of such identifying information. These acts must be done  without right , which refers to : (i) conduct undertaken without or in excess of authority; or (ii) conduct not covered by established legal defenses, excuses, court orders, justifications, or relevant principles under the law.

This cybercrime covers fake accounts, or accounts using the name or other identifying information of another person, without the authority of that person. The accused may be punished for identity theft even if the victim does not suffer any damage.

Any person found guilty of any of computer-related identity theft is punished with imprisonment of  prision mayor , or a fine of at least P200,000, up to a maximum amount commensurate to the damage incurred, or both.

II. ESTAFA UNDER THE REVISED PENAL CODE

In the Philippines, the crime specifically labelled as “identity theft” relates to cybercrimes. There is no such specific designation in “traditional” crimes, but identity theft is considered in relation to the crime of estafa under the Revised Penal Code (RPC) of the Philippines. 

Under Article 315 (2) (a) of the RPC, a person is guilty of estafa by using fictitious name, or falsely pretending to possess power, influence, qualifications, property, credit, agency, business or imaginary transactions, or by means of other similar deceits, executed prior to or simultaneously with the commission of the fraud.

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Cybersecurity awareness is high, yet action is lagging

Vinayak Sreedhar, Country Manager, Australia, ManageEngine, says awareness must be backed by action.

A recent report from ManageEngine on the cyber resilience of organisations in Australia and New Zealand unveiled a concerning trend.

While individuals and the organisations they operate in share a profound concern regarding cybersecurity breaches, a considerable gap exists between awareness and action within these organisations.

The report also highlighted that only 56% of organisations have taken measures to modify their existing cybersecurity protocols – despite being well-informed about breaches.

More alarming is the revelation that a significant 26% of organisations have done nothing to improve their security over the previous 12 months – with a further 17% being unsure whether adjustments have been made.

This unsettling pattern underscores a level of complacency that could potentially leave organisations vulnerable to further breaches.

The report identified the top four practises organisations are modifying to bolster their defences in response to escalating cyberthreats.

Humans are any security strategy’s biggest weakness, and this is clear from how training and awareness topped the list, with 63% of organisations increasing their efforts there.

Bolstering firewalls was a close second, with improvement efforts underway in 53% of organisations.

Adding an extra layer of security via multi-factor authentication (52%) and enhancing encryption to safeguard sensitive data (49%) rounded out the top four.

These modifications signal a shift towards proactive cybersecurity measures. However, the substantial gap between awareness and action persists.

When people receive reports of security breaches, they gain awareness. While this is the first step, potentially shifting their attitudes and increasing their sense of responsibility, this does not automatically translate to changes in behaviour or action.

Knowing something needs to be done is one thing; knowing what to do is another question entirely. This is the gap that must be bridged.

Investing in cybersecurity education benefits organisations, governments, businesses and industry leaders.

More than just cementing an organisation’s reputation as a responsible custodian of data, dedicated investment in opportunities for education, upskilling and re-skilling in cybersecurity future-proofs the workforce and ensures that the organisation firmly retains its competitive edge in a turbulent environment.

As such, initiatives like the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy and subsequent Australian Cyber Security Action Plan are vital. This strategic framework outlines a comprehensive plan to bolster the nation’s cybersecurity resilience, emphasising collaboration between the government, industries and the broader community to safeguard against cyberthreats.

By aligning with such a strategy, organisations can gain valuable insights and guidance to enhance their cybersecurity postures.

It is imperative for organisations to heed this strategy and prioritise action against threats to cybersecurity.

But this cannot be done without bridging the divide between awareness and action to fortify defences against the changing landscape.

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M-Trends 2024: Our View from the Frontlines

Jurgen kutscher.

Attackers are taking greater strides to evade detection. This is one of the running themes in our latest release: M-Trends 2024 . This edition of our annual report continues our tradition of providing relevant attacker and defender metrics, and insights into the latest attacker tactics, techniques and procedures, along with guidance and best practices on how organizations and defenders should be responding to threats.

This year’s M-Trends report covers Mandiant Consulting investigations of targeted attack activity conducted between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023. During that time, many of our observations demonstrate a more concerted effort by attackers to evade detection, and remain undetected on systems for longer periods of time:

Increased targeting of edge devices, and platforms that traditionally lack endpoint detection and response solutions.

A more than 50% growth in zero-day usage over the same reporting period in 2022, both by espionage groups as well as financially-motivated attackers.

More “living off the land,” or use of legitimate, pre-installed tools and software within an environment.

Despite the increased focus on evasion by attackers, we are pleased to report that defenders are generally continuing to improve at detecting threats. Dwell time represents the period an attacker is on a system from compromise to detection, and in 2023 the global median dwell time is now 10 days, down from 16 days in 2022. While various factors (such as ransomware) help drive down dwell time, it’s still a big win for defenders. We can’t let up, however. Mandiant red teams need only five to seven days on average to achieve their objectives, so organizations must remain vigilant. Other M-Trends 2024 metrics include:

54% of organizations first learned of a compromise from an external source (down from 63% in 2022), while 46% first identified evidence of a compromise internally.

Our engagements most frequently occurred at financial services organizations (17.3%), business and professional services (13.3%), high tech (12.4%), retail and hospitality (8.6%), healthcare (8.1%), and government (8.1%).

The most common initial infection vectors were exploits (38%), phishing (17%), prior compromise (15%), and stolen credentials (10%). 

Additional topics covered in detail in M-Trends 2024 include Chinese espionage operations targeting the visibility gap, the evolution of phishing amid shifting security controls, the use of adversary-in-the-middle to overcome multi-factor authentication, cloud intrusion trends, and the role of artificial intelligence in red and purple team engagements. 

With the release of M-Trends 2024, we hope to arm security professionals with insights from the frontlines of the latest, constantly evolving cyber attacks, and to provide actionable learnings to improve organizations’ security postures.

Read M-Trends 2024 now , and register today for our webinar series to get a closer look from experts about the data and insights in this year’s report. M-Trends 2024: Executive Edition is also available to read now, featuring a high-level overview of each section, along with key takeaways.

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Concerns raised over u.s.-philippines drill.

A joint drill conducted by the Philippines and the United States forces starting from Monday threatens regional stability and further stirs up tension in the South China Sea, analysts say.

The annual drill, called Balikatan, a Filipino term that means shoulder-to-shoulder, will run from April 22 to May 10. As many as 16,700 soldiers will participate in a broad spectrum of training activities, from maritime security and air defense to cyber warfare and information operations.

Of particular significance is the deployment of the Mid-Range Capability missile system, colloquially referred to as Typhon, by the U.S. Army Pacific to the Philippines' Luzon, which faces Taiwan of China — another flashpoint of tense Sino-U.S. relations.

This marks a notable development, being the first instance of the U.S. deploying a land-based, ground-launched system following its withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, analysts say.

Japanese media reported the missile system has a range that reaches Shanghai.

Around 14 nations will join as observers, including Japan, India and countries in ASEAN and the European Union, Michael Logico, a Philippine army colonel overseeing the exercises, said.

In response to the drills, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the Philippines "should understand that drawing in countries outside the South China Sea to flex their muscles and stoke confrontation in the region will only intensify tensions and undermine regional stability".

Lin said that by introducing external forces to maintain its security, the Philippines "will only put itself into greater insecurity, and even become the pawn of others".

Anna Rosario Malindog-Uy, vice-president for external affairs at the Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, said the deployment of Typhon for this year's joint drill is a "black day" for the Asia-Pacific region, and that could reshape the security structure here.

She said the deployment could potentially serve as a precursor to the more permanent basing of such missile systems in the Western Pacific region and "can be interpreted as provocative vis-a-vis China".

Arms race slammed

"The introduction of such capabilities on Philippine soil could contribute to a regional arms race," she said.

Chen Hong, executive director of the Asia Pacific Studies Centre at East China Normal University in Shanghai, slammed the joint military exercise as a strategic maneuver by the Philippine government to align itself with the U.S. in the context of broader Sino-U.S. rivalry.

"The Philippine government is dedicated to playing the 'anti-China' card, and its involvement serves as a manifestation of its willingness to act as a proxy for the U.S. in the South China Sea dispute," he said.

Under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, a military pact allowing the U.S. to deploy its troops, weapons, and equipment in up to nine military bases within the Philippine territory, the U.S. has now expanded access to the Philippine military bases and more extensive military exercises in the country.

Zhang Jie, a researcher at the National Institute of International Strategy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, said Manila has its own motives behind its alignment with Washington."By deepening its alliance with the U.S., Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr seeks to bolster domestic support while leveraging military and economic assistance from allied nations, including Japan, in its stance against China".

Zhang said the Philippines' insistence on involving countries outside the region in the South China Sea risks exacerbating regional tensions and increasing the likelihood of strategic miscalculations.

"The geopolitical ramifications of these developments extend beyond bilateral dynamics, with implications for regional stability and the unity of ASEAN nations," she said.

Wilson Lee Flores, honorary chairman of the Anvil Business Club, said ASEAN should aspire to become a nuclear-free and demilitarized region.

"ASEAN should avoid tragic wars now plaguing Europe and the Middle East," he said.

"The 'wolf pack tactics' employed by the U.S. should raise alarm. By stirring up troubles between China and ASEAN countries and carrying out military activities in the South China Sea, it aims at disturbing the region and consolidating its global hegemony," Chen said.

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