CICC: Roblox ban still possible if child-protection commitments fail

MANILA, Philippines – Online gaming platform Roblox may still be banned in the Philippines should it fail to deliver its commitments to the Philippine government, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) told the Senate on Tuesday.

The CICC made the statement at the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality’s inquiry into the gaming platforms being used to exploit or abuse children.

“They are not entitled to the protection of our laws. The execution of a ban is bound by their commitment and their implementation of their commitments,” CICC Executive Director Aboy Paraiso said, referring to Roblox Corp.

READ: CICC: Possible Roblox ban in PH hinges on April 7 meeting

Roblox was put under the Senate’s scrutiny after the rescue of seven minors who planned violence against their school, and themselves, through the said platform.

The CICC previously said it would ban the platform in the country; that ban was suspended following discussions with Roblox, during which its executives committed to implementing protective measures for children.

Paraiso noted that the ban could still be enforced by establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the proper implementation of the platform’s commitments.

“Ultimately, the power to limit them or to exclude them from the PH sphere is an option that is available to us. There can be warnings first, then there could be measurable KPIs that they are failing their commitments,” he said.

Specifically, Roblox committed to having a regional representative that Philippine authorities could reach out to upon running into violations of child exploitation.

Paraiso used the response mechanism as an example of what could lead to a ban.

“What is available to us is the reporting mechanism of Roblox… If that reporting mechanism fails, for example, we report something to them and they fail to take action, or we subpoena someone and they fail to give us the credentials of that threat actor or criminal online using their platform, then that is a failure of their commitment with the Philippine government,” 

READ: Hontiveros seeks Senate probe into Roblox, other online games

According to Roblox Corp.’s Vice President for Global Public Policy Nicky Jackson Colaco, Roblox began its “global overhaul of safety systems” on Monday.

She told the panel that the corporation has begun rolling out its “kids mode” for users aged 5 to 8 and its “select mode” for those aged 9 to 15.

In kids mode, the chat function is disabled, and the game catalog is limited. Meanwhile, the select mode will have a chat function limited within the age group, and can be modified by the users’ parents.

Roblox has also implemented an age-check technology through facial recognition. /das