DICT, CICC to hold stakeholder town hall on children’s online safety

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) will convene stakeholders on September 9, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. to discuss stronger measures to protect Filipino children on social media, online gaming platforms and other digital spaces.

The Stakeholder Town Hall Meeting will be held at the CICC Office, 16th Floor, Studio 7 Building along EDSA in Kamuning, Quezon City.

CICC Executive Director Undersecretary Renato “Aboy” Paraiso said the consultation will gather views, concerns and recommendations from different sectors, including tech communities, child protection advocates, civil society groups and other stakeholders, as the government moves toward stricter rules and regulations to strengthen children’s safety online.

“We want stakeholders to be part of the process. Protecting our children online cannot be addressed by government alone. We need to hear from tech communities, advocates and other sectors, understand the gaps and identify concrete measures that government, platforms and communities can implement together,” Paraiso said.

The discussion will focus on online safety, child protection, cybercrime prevention, platform cooperation and other emerging digital issues affecting children.

Paraiso said inputs from the town hall will also help prepare the government for upcoming discussions with Meta and Roblox. A Technical Working Group (TWG) is expected to tackle key concerns including Philippine jurisdiction over platforms, possible integration of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) for age verification and stronger coordination between technology companies, government and law enforcement.

“We need platforms to become active partners in protecting Filipino children. Age verification, accountability, jurisdiction and faster coordination with law enforcement are areas that need clear and workable mechanisms,” Paraiso said.

The CICC said the dialogue will also help identify existing gaps, emerging challenges and areas that may require stronger prioritization and coordination.

Paraiso said the goal is to translate stakeholder recommendations into appropriate policies, guidelines and collaborative measures that will help create a safer and more child-friendly digital environment for Filipino children.