The Senate approved on third and final reading on Thursday, Oct. 8, a bill seeking to prohibit minors below 18 years old from accessing high-risk digital platforms, potentially affecting services such as Meta Platforms, Roblox, and Gorebox.
Mabalacat City in Pampanga has banned the playing of online game Roblox in all computer shops following the passage of an ordinance by the city council, with city officials saying the ordinance aims to prevent students from being influenced by violence depicted in the gaming platform.
The National Privacy Commission (NPC) has issued show-cause orders against Meta, Roblox, Reddit, and Discord over their alleged failure to comply with registration requirements under Philippine data privacy regulations.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros has urged Roblox to appoint a legal representative in the Philippines who can respond to government orders and requests involving possible online child abuse.
The Philippine government and Roblox have agreed to explore stronger age verification measures, including possible integration with the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), as authorities push online platforms to tighten safeguards for children.
The measures were announced before the Zamboanga City school shooting, which subsequently intensified public debate in the Philippines over minors’ exposure to violent games, online chat groups and other potentially harmful digital content.
The launch comes on the same day that Sen. Risa Hontiveros led a Senate inquiry into platforms like Roblox, pushing for measures such as mandatory age verification and stricter child safety standards.
The Philippine government will not ban Roblox, but will instead push for stronger safeguards to protect children amid rising concerns over online abuse and exploitation.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has deferred its decision on whether to block online gaming platform Roblox in the Philippines, extending the deadline to April 10 to allow further coordination with the company.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros has filed a resolution seeking an investigation into online gaming platforms such as Roblox, citing potential risks to children and the need for stronger safeguards.
