The Philippine government has pushed back its deadline for Roblox to respond to safety concerns, giving the gaming platform until April 3, 2026 to talk with regulators or face a possible nationwide ban.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) earlier considered shortening the response window to 15 days due to what it described as delayed response from the company, but has since allowed more time after Roblox reportedly reached out to authorities.
Authorities, led by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), are investigating how the platform is allegedly being used to exploit minors, who make up a large portion of its users. Reported risks include online grooming, child sexual abuse materials, and influence from foreign threat actors.
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The CICC said Roblox has committed to discussions and assured cooperation with Philippine authorities. Still, Undersecretary Renato “Aboy” Paraiso maintained that existing safeguards remain insufficient.
“Your safeguards and guarantees are insufficient to protect our Filipino children,” Paraiso said. “If you’re coming here to convince us to agree to your policies and guidelines, it’s a waste of effort. You come here to have a dialogue with the Philippine government to reform your platform and safeguard our children.”
The agency has scheduled high-level meetings on April 7 to 9, where Roblox representatives are expected to present localized technical measures to improve child safety.
Telecommunications companies and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) have also been asked to prepare for a possible nationwide block if talks fail.
Despite extending the deadline, regulators said that a ban remains on the table if meaningful changes are not implemented.
Timeline or the Roblox ban saga in the Philippines:
- March 20: CICC raises the possibility of a nationwide Roblox ban over reports of exploitation and illegal activities.
- March 21: CICC and DICT issue a 30-day deadline for Roblox to coordinate with authorities.
- March 23: Sen. Risa Hontiveros files a Senate resolution seeking an investigation into online gaming platforms and child safety measures.
- March 24-25: Deadline reportedly shortened to 15 days; telcos and regulators discuss enforcing a full platform block.
- March 26: Warning issued that partial blocking could begin as early as the Holy Week period if response is inadequate.
The outcome of the April meetings is expected to determine whether Filipino users will continue to access Roblox or face a nationwide restriction.
