Online gaming platform Roblox has agreed to strengthen its user verification and child protection measures in the Philippines to help prevent online grooming, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said.
The commitment was made during a meeting between Philippine officials and Roblox executives in Singapore, where the company agreed to explore integrating the Philippine Identification System into its user verification process.
Roblox will also develop stricter safeguards for its messaging features to ensure that minors can communicate only with users within their age group, according to the CICC.
“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 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 CICC said Roblox has also implemented artificial intelligence-powered age verification. Users who fail the age check will have their chat function disabled and will be limited to the platform’s kids’ catalog.
Roblox is also expected to establish an office in the Philippines by October to improve coordination with authorities on online safety and regulatory concerns.
The company will designate a liaison officer who will coordinate directly with Philippine authorities, including the National Bureau of Investigation.
Paraiso said closer coordination with technology platforms is necessary to ensure that regulations are practical and responsive to emerging online threats.
Meanwhile, Meta expressed support for working with the Philippine government to integrate child protection features and develop stronger security measures against online risks.
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda, who attended the meeting, said the commitments made by the platforms should be translated into concrete action.
“The commitments made today are a starting point. The responsibility now is to turn them into action and to ensure that online threats are addressed before they become real-world harm,” Aguda said.
The discussions came amid renewed calls for stronger online safeguards for children following the August 18 school shooting in Zamboanga.