Roblox eyes Philippine National ID integration for user verification

Roblox is exploring the integration of the Philippine National ID system into its user verification process as part of new safeguards against online grooming, radicalization, and extremist infiltration, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said Friday.

The proposed integration would help establish users’ identities and make it more difficult for adult predators and groomers to enter online spaces used by children.

“We are pleased with the direction of our discussions with Roblox and the willingness they have shown to work with the Philippine government,” CICC Executive Director Undersecretary Renato “Aboy” Paraiso said.

“This is an important beginning, and we want to build on it to create a safer gaming environment for our children,” he added.

The National ID proposal was among the measures discussed during a meeting between Roblox executives and Philippine officials led by Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda in Singapore this week.

Roblox also committed to developing stricter controls for its messaging features, including measures that would allow children to communicate only with users in their age group. The controls aim to close loopholes that could be exploited by adults, groomers, and extremist elements seeking access to child-focused spaces.

The platform has introduced AI-powered age verification, which the CICC said has an estimated margin of error of 1.4 years. Accounts that do not undergo an age check will have their chat functions disabled and will be restricted to games in Roblox’s children’s catalog.

Roblox is also expected to establish an office in the Philippines by October, following the opening of its regional office in Singapore. Its local presence is expected to enable faster coordination with Philippine authorities on online safety concerns and regulatory matters.

The discussions come amid growing concern over the risks faced by children and young people on online gaming platforms.

Roblox recently figured in investigations into an alleged school attack plot in Calamba, Laguna, involving seven minors who were reportedly groomed and radicalized by an online contact they met through the platform.

The gaming platform also came under scrutiny following a shooting incident that killed two students at Ateneo de Zamboanga University.

Paraiso said the government is studying additional safeguards that could be incorporated into guidelines and regulations for online gaming platforms.

The CICC also plans to hold a town hall meeting with web developers to gather their concerns and recommendations on gaming safety.

“Regulations work best when we understand how these platforms actually operate,” Paraiso said. “We want to hear from the developers, learn what they are seeing on the ground, and use those insights to build safety measures that have teeth, are practical, and are responsive to new risks.”