The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said it is closely monitoring video gaming platform Roblox during a three-month probation period, following a spike in reports linked to child safety and harmful online activity.
In a media advisory, the CICC said concerns raised by the public are being “well reviewed, acknowledged, and given careful consideration,” as its Cybercrime Complaint Center (C3) logged multiple reports in recent weeks.
“When it comes to child safety, we do not go by statistics. One child that gets sexually exploited, one child that gets victimized, is enough for the government to step in,” said Aboy Paraiso, executive director of the CICC.
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The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and CICC earlier warned Roblox of a possible ban in the Philippines after reports that the platform was being used for illegal activities, including cases tied to Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC). Many Roblox users are minors.
Following high-level talks in early April, Roblox agreed to tighten its controls and roll out additional parental safety features to address the issues.
Government agencies have since softened their stance, saying they recognize Roblox as both an educational platform and a potential source of livelihood for users. However, the CICC said strict monitoring will continue to ensure compliance and prevent repeat violations that could affect Filipino youth.
Roblox has also provided a “green lane” for faster coordination with the CICC and the Philippine National Police (PNP), allowing quicker response to complaints involving harmful content or suspicious activity.
Since the third week of March, the C3 has handled more than 30 emails, 20 Facebook messages, and at least one direct report from a minor user related to Roblox concerns.
The CICC urged parents and guardians to stay involved in their children’s online activities, noting that not all families can provide constant supervision. It also encouraged the public to report incidents through Hotline 1326 or its official social media pages.
During the meeting, Roblox said that it has committed to align its safety measures with Philippine laws as authorities continue surveillance during the probation period.
