Roblox blamed for two school shootings

At least two reported incidents of school shootings in the country were blamed on the online gaming platform Roblox, which the senators want to place under three-month probation.

According to Mav Gonzales’ report in “24 Oras” on Tuesday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) told senators that a Grade 10 student in Marikina brought his father's firearm to school without permission, allegedly influenced by playing Roblox.

“He pointed the firearm to his classmate and himself while joking, then fired the said firearm. So, the victim later died in the hospital. We checked the cellphone, he was possibly influenced by this violent extremism,” said Police Colonel Romeo Desiderio of PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group.

The police said the student was influenced to do it. This is similar to what may have also happened to a Grade 12 student in Batangas, who also brought a firearm to school last February.

“He drew the gun then fired twice at the classroom floor then shot himself despite intervention attempts. So, he later died in the hospital. Nagkaroon din tayo ng checking of his gadgets. So nandoon din yung tracing na he was possibly na-groom din to conduct this incident,” said Desiderio.

Also mentioned in the Senate hearing was the thwarted mass shooting plan by several youths during their school's foundation week in Laguna. The incident was allegedly due to the influence of individuals they met on Roblox.

Messenger chats

The plan was uncovered through their Facebook Messenger chats, which included intentions to wear Nazi-influenced shirts. The chats also discussed the political beliefs of Adolf Hitler, Satanism, and violent extremism, as well as their idolization of mass shooters from America and Australia.

They were rescued on January 13.

“The messages reference past mass attacks and discussed using of fire extinguisher for flash blinding effect, IEDS or improvised explosive devices and molotov cocktails. It also stated desire to carry out school shooting locally and intent to die by suicIde,” said Desiderio.

The PNP said that those rescued were between 12 and 15 years old, most of whom were from private schools.

Those who spend excessive time on their gadgets and are not monitored by their parents are easily victimized, the report said.

“Nagsi-seek sila ng identity at sense of belongingness. Telling them that ‘I am here with you.' 'You have a friend in me.’ So ang ginagawa ng groomer, sasabihin niya sa iyo ‘pwede mo sabihin sa 'kin everything,’” an official from the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group said.

Grooming

Aside from the game itself being violent and potentially containing sexual materials, there is another method of abuse, according to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center.

“The second part of abuse dun yung sinasabi ng chair yung grooming…Tina-target ang mga bata na para ilipat sa ibang messaging platform para doon indoctrinate, tinuturuan kung paano mag-commit ng violence,” said CICC executive director Aboy Paraiso.

Roblox has yet to issue a statement regarding the children who died due to the game.

However, their representatives have already met with the government and the proposed Roblox ban that was supposed to take effect this April has been called off.

According to Roblox, they have updated their safety systems and simplified their parental controls. Game features will now vary depending on the age group.

There will be no chat mode for children aged five to eight. Meanwhile, those aged nine to 15 will only be allowed to chat with users within their own age group.

“It has to be a video selfie. We think that’s important because that’s a lot more difficult to game. We are aware that the accuracy of this tool is highly accurate within a range of one to three years,” said Nicky Jackson, Roblox vice president for global public policy.

Ineffective identification method

But the CICC said the method Roblox uses to verify the age of its players is ineffective and remains a major challenge. The group cited that there are also reports of adults purchasing children's accounts specifically to gain access and speak to other minors.

“We seem to have a problem with facial recognition. It has its loopholes. We were able to register adults as kids,” said Paraiso.

As of now, Roblox maintains 24-hour communication with authorities to ensure the swift reporting and arrest of any gamers with malicious intent.

Despite these steps, senators want to place Roblox on a three-month probation period.

“The suspension or the implementation of the ban is conditional. The ban could still be implemented,” said Senator Risa Hontiveros.

They also want to hold Facebook — the owner of Messenger, where chats between Roblox gamers and groomers are allegedly moved — accountable.

A subpoena will be issued to Facebook if they fail to send a representative to the next hearing. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BAP, GMA News