TELECOMMUNICATIONS companies in the Philippines have committed to block access to an online gaming platform following government concerns over risks to minors as global scrutiny over child safety intensifies.
The commitment was made during a meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Quezon City between the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), and local telcos. Companies agreed to implement restrictions in compliance with Philippine laws and directives aimed at protecting children online.
The move comes after authorities flagged alleged risks to minors on the platform, including exposure to harmful and illegal activities. The platform, which hosts user-generated content and social interaction features, has faced mounting criticism globally over its ability to safeguard younger users.
CICC Executive Director Undersecretary Renato “Aboy” Paraiso said the agency earlier issued a 30-day ultimatum requiring the company to respond to concerns involving alleged illicit activities targeting underage users. These include reported cases of grooming, exploitation and other forms of abuse linked to online interactions.
The CICC later shortened the deadline to 15 days, warning of possible restrictions if the company failed to coordinate with authorities.
“Kaya binigyan na lang namin sila ng (So we gave them) 15 days to reach out to the government, the DICT and the CICC in particular, to discuss why we shouldn’t restrict their platform in the Philippine jurisdiction. Not only harmful but illegal content online is happening within their platform,” Paraiso said.
Globally, the platform has been the subject of lawsuits and investigations over child safety. Reports in the United States and Europe have cited cases where minors were allegedly exposed to inappropriate content or contacted by adults through in-game communication features. Some incidents involved attempts to move conversations to external platforms, raising concerns about grooming and exploitation.
Researchers and regulators have also flagged challenges in moderating user-generated environments at scale, where millions of users interact daily. Critics say such systems can allow harmful content and interactions to bypass safeguards, particularly when real-time communication tools are involved.
In response, the company has introduced measures such as age verification, chat restrictions for younger users and automated moderation tools. However, regulators in several jurisdictions have said these measures remain insufficient.
Philippine authorities said the planned blocking is part of broader efforts to enforce online safety regulations and ensure digital platforms are accountable for content accessible to minors.
The CICC also urged parents and guardians to closely monitor their children's online activities, emphasizing the need to ensure their safety both within and beyond digital platforms.