Discord ban in PH sparks reactions from Paulo Avelino, Alodia Gosiengfiao, others

Filipino personalities have spoken out after Discord was temporarily blocked in the Philippines, with some raising concerns about the platform’s impact on work, education, and online communities.

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center ordered the blocking of Discord on Sept. 23 after it failed to agree to open a local office in the country amid government concerns over the platform’s alleged use by online communities linked to violent extremism, grooming, and other threats to minors. A similar order was issued to Reddit, which has committed to complying with the requirement.

The ban was lifted on Thursday, Sept. 24 following what Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda described as “successful negotiations” with Discord. The platform committed to working with Philippine authorities on online child-safety measures.

Before the ban was lifted, several local public figures took to social media to share their concerns, including actor Paulo Avelino, who questioned the decision to block the platform, pointing out that it is used for more than gaming.

“People use Discord for work meetings, school, and running small businesses. Block it and they all get hit, while bad actors just move to another app,” Avelino wrote on X on Sept. 23. “Child safety matters. So fix the actual problem, not just the easiest target!”

First world countries: Discord, add age verification.

Philippines: Discord, bye.🤡

People use Discord for work meetings, school, and running small businesses. Block it and they all get hit, while bad actors just move to another app.

Child safety matters. So fix the actual… https://t.co/1bBD5ZbvYl

— PAULO (@mepauloavelino) September 23, 2026

Meanwhile, cosplayer, gamer, and content creator Alodia Gosiengfiao also questioned the government's decision to block Discord.

In a short Facebook post, Gosiengfiao pointed to the continued accessibility of online gambling platforms while Discord was being restricted, highlighting what she saw as a contrast in regulatory priorities.

Fellow content creator and gaming personality Dino Roman raised concerns about Filipinos who rely on the platform for their livelihoods.

“BANNED DISCORD SA PH? Paano ‘yung mga PH-based workers I contract to work with me, at Discord ang ginagamit namin to communicate professionally and efficiently every day? Sino sasalo ng responsibility?” Roman wrote on Facebook.

He also questioned how the restriction could affect businesses, freelancers, creators, and remote workers who use Discord.

“Papasahurin ba sila nung mga nag-desisyong i-ban ang Discord kapag nawalan sila ng trabaho?” he wrote.

Roman acknowledged that alternatives are available, but said the restriction still leaves affected workers and businesses to make the adjustment.

Voice actor, artist, and content creator KiraKiraKat also described the ban as harmful to Filipinos, particularly those working remotely. In a post on X, she said she relies on Discord for her livelihood as an artist and voice actor in game development.

“The digital sector supports a massive portion of our national workforce across IT, creative arts, and game development. A hasty, blanket restriction risks crippling these essential industries,” she wrote.

She also explained that remote work is particularly important to her as a parent.

“As a single mother raising a child with special needs, remote work is not just a convenience; it is my family’s lifeline,” KiraKiraKat said, adding that she uses the platform for production pipelines, asset management, and real-time collaboration with global creative teams.

She argued that the problem lies not with communication platforms themselves, but with gaps in digital media literacy, mental health support, and parental oversight.

“Abruptly blocking communication channels does not solve online risks; it merely displaces them while inflicting massive collateral damage on law-abiding digital workers,” she said.

Former DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy also criticized the temporary Discord block, questioning its legal basis and the impact on Filipino online workers. Dy cited the Supreme Court’s ruling in Disini v. Secretary of Justice, which he said requires a court order for the blocking of online resources. He argued that the restriction affected legitimate Filipino workers who use Discord for their livelihoods.

“Have you heard of Discord’s Barangay VA Helpdesk group? It has 12,000+ members,” Dy wrote on his social media page, also citing the Nexus and Jobcord servers, which he said are used by Filipino virtual assistants.

“Congratulations, DICT, because of our failure to apprehend criminals online, we sacrificed some 15,000 legitimate Filipino workers on Discord,” he added.