In a public dialogue involving government regulators, law enforcement and educators, concerns around child safety on the gaming platform Roblox were discussed, Tuesday, March 31.

The Philippines is among the platform’s largest user bases globally, which has drawn attention to how safety measures are implemented and enforced locally, especially after Philippine police recently foiled a planned mass shooting by children Roblox players manipulated by unknown entities.

Statistical context and concerns raised

At the discussion, led by the Cybercrime Investigation And Coordinating Center (CICC), participants examined the scale of reported incidents relative to the platform’s size.

Data cited indicated that Roblox has approximately 382 million monthly active users, while reports from the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) identified around 24,552 cases of sexual exploitation associated with the platform. This, according to a member of a Roblox developer group in the Philiippines, shows that only a small proportion of total users — estimated at around 0.006% — are negatively affected in the community.

This was countered by Regina Sibal, a representative of the National Parent Teacher Association (NPTA), who emphasized that each reported case involves a real child and should not be viewed solely in statistical terms. Sibal said, “A child is not… a statistic. It’s a human being. It is a living, breathing human being. So we cannot discount [harm] regardless of the number.”

They also raised concerns that reported figures may not fully capture the extent of incidents, citing studies suggesting that only a small percentage of cases are formally reported.

Gov’t position on child safety

Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) stated that government response to child safety issues is not based on statistical thresholds alone. He noted that any confirmed case of exploitation warrants attention and intervention.

“When it comes to child safety, we do not go by statistics,” Paraiso declared. He emphasized that the government’s threshold for intervention is not a percentage but a single victim: “One child that gets sexually exploited, one child that gets victimized is enough for government to step in.”

Paraiso and Henry Aguda, secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), acknowledged the platform’s potential for creativity and learning, but stressed the importance of ensuring that safeguards are built into its systems.

Ongoing engagement and regulatory process

Officials confirmed that a formal 30-day notice has been issued to Roblox, requiring the company to address identified safety concerns and outline corresponding measures.

While some stakeholders have suggested restricting access to the platform, some also view a ban as a blunt tool that helps no one, and potentially stifles constructive conversation. However, the DICT and CICC were clear that if Roblox fails to meet safety standards, they are prepared to take “stronger action,” including potential restriction or blocking.

The government’s priority is “safety by design,” ensuring that protection is embedded into the platform’s architecture rather than treated as an optional or reactive measure.

A meeting between Philippine authorities and Roblox representatives is scheduled for April 7 to discuss these issues further.

Local presence and compliance measures

A proposed primary requirement for the platform’s continued operation in the Philippines is the establishment of a local legal presence. Lawyer Jaye Dela Cruz-Bekema, chief legal counsel of the office of Senator Risa Hontiveros, mentioned pushing for legislative amendments “to require the permission of a legal representative from these platforms in the Philippines for purposes of acquiring jurisdiction and receiving summonses.”

Undersecretary Paraiso described this as a “non-negotiable” demand, stating that Roblox “should be here, that they should register here in the Philippines.” This local registration would facilitate better cooperation with law enforcement, such as the provision of platform transparency needed to “go after the predators” and the establishment of a hotline for immediate reporting.

Potential areas for improvement mentioned by the stakeholders include:

• Establishing accessible reporting mechanisms for users and authorities
• Aligning platform policies with Philippine laws, including those addressing online child exploitation
• Improving data-sharing processes with law enforcement, subject to legal requirements
• Exploring more robust age verification systems beyond self-declared information, considering how such technologies have improved greatly

Shared responsibility

Bekema challenged the idea that parental education is the sole solution, noting that “we’re not all in the same boat.” She explained that “some parents are overseas, are working. Some parents are working three jobs,” making constant monitoring difficult.

Sibal added that while parents “do not absolve ourselves of that responsibility,” safety must be a “joint responsibility of the community.” She argued that while parents should “not pass the buck to the developer,” the application itself “should also take its responsibility in providing mechanisms for safety and security.”

Participants in the dialogue highlighted that ensuring online safety involves multiple stakeholders, including platforms, government agencies, and parents.

As discussions continue, the government has indicated that its approach will focus on encouraging compliance with safety standards while maintaining due process. The outcome of ongoing engagements with Roblox may influence how such platforms operate within the Philippines going forward. And whether the platform continues to thrive in the Philippines depends on its willingness to meet these standards of safety and local accountability. – Rappler.com