PLDT Inc. and its wireless arm Smart Communications said they are prepared to support government efforts to restrict access to Roblox as part of a broader push to strengthen online child protection in the Philippines.
The move follows a joint review led by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), alongside the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), after concerns were raised by parents, educators, and other groups over risks faced by minors on the platform.
Authorities have placed Roblox under closer monitoring amid reports of harmful content exposure and alleged misuse of its user-generated environment. Concerns raised include potential exposure to inappropriate material, grooming activities, and other online threats affecting children.
“We appreciate the readiness of internet service providers to support government measures that aim to keep children safe online,” said Ella Blanca T. Lopez, noting that regulators are assessing possible actions, including access restrictions, to address emerging risks.
Joan de Venecia-Fabul, Chief Legal Counsel and Head of Regulatory and Strategic Affairs at PLDT, said protecting children online requires shared responsibility across sectors.
“Protecting children online is a responsibility we share with government and families,” she said. “We recognize that children are among our most important stakeholders, and we fully support efforts to create a safer digital environment for them.”
Platform risks under scrutiny
Regulators and cybersecurity officials said risks on Roblox often develop through a progression that begins with initial contact in games or chat features, followed by migration to more private channels where moderation may be weaker.
These interactions can evolve into grooming or manipulation, with bad actors building trust over time—sometimes using in-game incentives—before exposing minors to harmful content or encouraging off-platform activities.
Lawmakers have flagged challenges in enforcing safeguards at scale, citing limitations in age verification and moderation systems that may allow such behavior to persist undetected.
The CICC earlier issued a 15-day notice to Roblox to address allegations involving illegal activities targeting minors. The deadline has since been extended to April 10, 2026, with regulators awaiting the platform’s response.
Telco systems ready for enforcement
PLDT and Smart said they will comply with any formal directive from the NTC to block access to Roblox, consistent with their ongoing collaboration with authorities in restricting harmful online content.
The group highlighted its Child Protection Platform, which enables content-level blocking of flagged URLs rather than broad site restrictions. The system targets materials linked to online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC), using data from international partners such as the Internet Watch Foundation and the Canadian Centre for Child Protection.
PLDT said the platform blocked around 176,000 attempts to access OSAEC-related content in the first two months of 2026 alone. Since its launch in June 2021, more than two million web addresses linked to child abuse have been blacklisted.
The telco said these efforts align with broader commitments to safer digital spaces and support for global initiatives such as United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16, which focuses on protecting children and strengthening institutions.
As regulators continue their review, PLDT and Smart said they remain ready to work with government partners to ensure platforms operating in the country meet appropriate safety standards, particularly when it comes to protecting minors online.
