CICC to apply anti-child exploitation law in review of possible Roblox restriction in PH

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center said it will apply the country’s strengthened anti-child exploitation law as it reviews possible regulatory action against Roblox following reports of online risks involving minors.

CICC Acting Executive Director Renato Paraiso said the agency is assessing the platform under Republic Act No. 11930, which covers not only child sexual abuse materials but also online sexual exploitation of children, including grooming, coercion, and abuse carried out through digital platforms.

“We will apply RA 11930 as part of our mandate to protect children in digital spaces. Platforms must ensure that they are not being used for any form of child exploitation, whether through content or direct interaction, and if there are gaps, these must be addressed immediately,” Paraiso said.

He said the law penalizes a wide range of offenses, including grooming or luring children, facilitating or enabling exploitation, livestream sexual abuse, and the production, distribution, possession, and access of child sexual abuse materials, giving authorities broad powers to act against both perpetrators and enablers.

Paraiso added that the law requires digital platforms and internet intermediaries to report child sexual abuse or exploitation activities, preserve relevant data, and cooperate with law enforcement in investigations, allowing regulators to demand compliance from platforms operating in the country.

“Our priority is child safety. If a platform is found to be at risk or non-compliant with safeguards required under our laws, we will not hesitate to recommend appropriate measures to protect Filipino users, especially minors,” he added.

The CICC said it is coordinating with relevant government agencies and engaging the platform to determine the extent of risks and the adequacy of its safety mechanisms, particularly in preventing harmful interactions involving children.

Paraiso noted that enforcement of RA 11930 is already being operationalized across government, including by the National Telecommunications Commission, which has been directing telecommunications companies and internet service providers to block access to websites found to be hosting child sexual abuse materials.

“Child exploitation is a very serious concern which needs immediate action before it can cause more harm,” Paraiso said.

The agency said any decision will be based on evidence and compliance, with the goal of ensuring that online platforms operating in the Philippines adhere to the country’s child protection standards.

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