The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has given Reddit and Discord 24 hours to designate local representatives in the Philippines, warning that the platforms could face restrictions or blocking if they fail to comply.
The Department of Education (DepEd) is preparing a digital safety campaign for learners, teachers, and parents following recent school shootings that raised concerns over the possible role of harmful online content and interactions in school violence.
The Philippine Institute of Cyber Security Professionals (PICSPro) said the investigation should look beyond the student’s access to a firearm and determine whether online communities or content influenced his behavior.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is again facing questions over its response to harmful online content following a shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato — the country’s third deadly school shooting since June.
Local telcos PLDT and Globe Telecom are blocking hundreds of websites carrying footage of school shootings and other acts of extreme violence, prompting concerns from a cyber activist over the absence of clear standards and due process.
Cybersecurity professional Albert “Abet” Dela Cruz has proposed a national digital safety framework requiring platforms to restrict features for minors by default, device makers to incorporate safety controls during activation, and the government to expand digital literacy programs for parents.
Sen. Bam Aquino has rejected calls for an outright ban on video games for minors following the fatal school shooting in Zamboanga City, saying the government should instead tighten the enforcement of age restrictions on mature-rated games and restrict minors’ access to harmful online chat groups.
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian is renewing calls for tighter controls on children’s use of digital platforms, reviving a proposed smartphone ban in schools and seeking a Senate inquiry into the role of online games and social media in campus violence.
