Roblox commits to working with PH on platform security

Gaming platform Roblox has expressed its commitment to maintaining the safety of children, including its Filipino users, on the platform.

In a statement sent to GMA News Online, Roblox said it is already coordinating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) regarding possible steps to further secure the platform.

“We share the Secretary of Information and Communications Technology’s commitment to helping keep children in the Philippines safe online and are looking forward to our continued engagement with DICT and CICC,” said Roblox.

The company, meanwhile, emphasized that "advanced safeguards and robust safety policies" are already in place to protect its players. 

“We have filters designed to block the sharing of personal information, our chat features don’t allow user-to-user image or video sharing, and age checks are required before anyone has access to chat," said the company.

"Those same checks are also used to limit kids and teens to only chatting with others of similar age by default. Our approach includes multiple layers of protection: advanced AI detection systems, dedicated teams who constantly monitor for critical harms, user reporting tools, and ongoing collaboration with law enforcement and safety organizations,” it added.

The statement comes after CICC issued an ultimatum on the gaming platform to address threat actors like pedophiles and drug traffickers using the platform as “hunting grounds” for underage users.

The agency said it was looking into a nationwide ban to protect Filipino children.

In response, Roblox acknowledged the Philippine laws and said that they will continue collaborations with authorities and experts on the matter.

“Roblox respects the local laws and regulations in the Philippines, and we know our safety work is never done. We believe through our collaboration and engagement with local authorities and experts, Roblox has a positive, vibrant role to play in Filipino society by providing a platform for learning, creation and play,” Roblox said. —VAL, GMA Integrated News