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The digital advocacy network Digital Pinoys has publicly thrown its support behind the Philippine government’s recent ultimatum against the online gaming platform Roblox, agreeing that a failure to protect Filipino children justifies severe regulatory intervention.

In a statement, Digital Pinoys National Campaigner Ronald Gustilo commended the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) for raising serious concerns over reports that the platform is being used for grooming, exploitation, and exposing minors to illegal activities.

Accountability, Not Censorship

Addressing potential criticisms of government overreach, the advocacy group emphasized that holding digital platforms accountable for user safety should not be confused with restricting free expression.

“The government’s warning should not be misconstrued as censorship. This is about enforcing accountability in digital spaces where Filipino users—particularly children—are at risk,” Gustilo stated. “Video games that primarily target young users have a heightened obligation to ensure their safety. If these obligations are not met, then regulatory intervention is not only justified, it is necessary.”

Systemic Failures and Required Reforms

Digital Pinoys pointed out that the issues on Roblox go beyond isolated incidents, highlighting systemic failures in the platform’s content moderation, user protection mechanisms, and overall game developer accountability.

To rectify these vulnerabilities and avoid a potential nationwide restriction, Gustilo outlined key measures that platforms like Roblox must immediately implement:

• Stricter Age Verification: Enhancing systems to accurately determine and restrict users based on age.
• Proactive Moderation: Utilizing a combination of artificial intelligence and human review to actively monitor and take down illicit content.
• Faster Response Times: Improving turnaround times for addressing and resolving abuse reports submitted by users and parents.
• Full Cooperation: Working directly with Philippine authorities, echoing the DICT and CICC’s primary demand.

The Push for a Broader Framework

The group’s endorsement adds civil society weight to the DICT and CICC’s ongoing crackdown on foreign tech platforms. The agencies recently issued similar warnings to the messaging app Telegram and the microblogging site Tumblr, forcing both to establish direct cooperation channels with the Philippine government to avoid being blocked.

Gustilo concluded by reiterating the need for a broader and clearer regulatory framework governing all digital platforms operating in the country, especially those with massive youth engagement.

“Digital innovation must go hand in hand with digital responsibility. Platforms cannot profit from engagement while neglecting the safety of their users,” he said.

This article is published on BitPinas: Digital Pinoys Backs Gov’t Ultimatum Against Roblox; Calls for Stricter Platform Accountability

Disclosure: AI has been used to assist in writing this story.

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