Roblox won't be banned in PH—DICT
The Department of Information and Communications Technology has junked its plans to ban Roblox in the Philippines.
This comes as the multiplayer gaming platform laid out plans to tighten safeguards against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
Representatives of Roblox met with the DICT, Cybecrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, law enforcement, and the private sector on April 7, ahead of the April 10 deadline the agency set to address concerns.
"Nilatag at ipinaliwanag ng Roblox ang mas mahigpit na safeguards sa kanilang platform, kabilang ang mas strikto na monitoring, reporting mechanisms, at age-appropriate content controls," the DICT said in a statement.
The agency added that on April 12, Roblox will roll out an information campaign on the protections.
Parents of kids playing the game are encouraged to use Parental Controls, monitor their children's screen time, limit in-app purchases, block inappropriate experiences, and choose age-suitable content.
"Platforms like Roblox, parang digital playground po 'yan. Pwedeng maglaro, matuto, at makipag-connect, pero dahil open siya sa lahat, may risks din," ICT Secretary Henry Aguda said. "Kaya habang nag-eenjoy sila, responsibilidad nating siguraduhin na ligtas ang spaces na ito. Kasi at the end of the day, ang safety ng kabataan ang priority natin."
On March 23, Sen. Risa Hontiveros filed a resolution seeking a probe into Roblox and other gaming platforms over their potential risks to child safety. The CICC previously considered a nationwide block on the popular multiplayer game.
In a previous stakeholders meeting, Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group's PBGen. Wilson Asuete said that authorities received reports regarding online predators, scams, cyberbullying, and inappropriate content targeting minors on the platform.
The CICC has said it wants Roblox to register in the Philippines and to ensure that age verification protocols are tied to the government's "sources of truth," like the PhilSys system.
Earlier in January, Roblox announced that it would require users worldwide to complete an age check—which will work through face recognition—to chat with others.
