Roblox open to Phl representative amid child safety push

Online gaming giant Roblox is open to appointing a local representative in the Philippines who can directly receive subpoenas and other lawful government orders, a move that could speed up authorities’ response to cases involving child grooming and online sexual abuse.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros said Roblox representatives expressed willingness during a meeting to designate a qualified third party as its Philippine representative.

The proposal is part of the strengthened anti-online sexual abuse and exploitation of children measure now known as the SAGIP Bata Act.

Under the measure, online platforms would be required to maintain a Philippine-based representative authorized to receive subpoenas, takedown and blocking orders, requests for account information, and other lawful directives.

“Kapag may batang Pilipinong posibleng biktima ng grooming o online sexual abuse, bawat oras ay mahalaga. Kailangang alam agad ng ating mga awtoridad kung sino ang lalapitan,” Hontiveros said.

She said Roblox already has channels for coordinating with Philippine law enforcement agencies.

“We appreciate Roblox’s openness and its existing work with our law-enforcement agencies. Our goal is to build on that cooperation and make it reliable across platforms, and not dependent on informal or individual arrangements,” she said.

The development follows warnings from Philippine authorities earlier this year that Roblox could face a possible ban over reports involving child sexual predation and grooming.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology later ruled out a nationwide ban after Roblox committed to additional child-safety measures.

Roblox has also agreed to work toward integrating the Philippine Identification System into its age and identity verification mechanisms.

Meanwhile, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center is studying privacy safeguards for age-verification systems used by gaming and social media platforms.

Hontiveros earlier launched a Senate inquiry into Roblox and other online gaming platforms over risks involving grooming, online sexual abuse and exploitation, and other digital threats to minors.

She said protecting children online should not rest solely on parents and young users, stressing that platforms where minors interact also have a responsibility to prevent grooming, exploitation and abuse.