Philippines Gives Roblox 15 Days to Address Child Safety Concerns or Face a Ban

The Philippine government has issued a 15-day deadline to Roblox, asking the platform to respond to "child safety concerns" or risk being restricted in the country.

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) is leading the charge here. They had initially given Roblox a 30-day ultimatum to clean things up. But when the platform appeared unresponsive, the government shortened the window to just 15 days.

According to the CICC, several telecom companies in the Philippines are already prepared to block Roblox the moment a government order comes through. The agency has reportedly met with these telcos to discuss the potential risks the platform poses to younger users. If Roblox fails to respond within the deadline, a total ban could be set in motion.

Senate Steps In

The issue has also caught the attention of lawmakers. Senator Risa Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution No. 357, which calls for a formal investigation into Roblox and similar gaming platforms. The resolution directs the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality to look into digital gaming safety standards.

As per the resolution, the probe aims to push for:

• Mandatory age verification protocols

• Stronger child protection measures

• Updated regulatory frameworks for digital platforms

• Measures addressing mental health effects of excessive gaming

• Improved digital literacy programs

Hontiveros highlighted a key concern in the resolution: "The Philippines continues to face a persistent and evolving threat of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) and child sexual abuse and exploitation material (CSAEM), with digital platforms increasingly used to facilitate grooming, coercion, and abuse of minors."

One particular incident that pushed things further involved minors in the CALABARZON region who allegedly planned a school attack after exposure to violent content in online gaming environments.

Authorities have also documented cases where predators used gaming chat features to contact minors and move conversations to private channels.

Roblox's Track Record

For those unfamiliar, Roblox is a massive online platform that lets users play and build their own games. It is often described as a YouTube for games, home to millions of user-generated experiences. The platform markets itself as kid-friendly, but it has long struggled with:

• Sexual and "bypassed" clothing content

• Violent or disturbing user-created games

• Grooming and exploitation cases reported globally

This is not just a Philippine issue either. Roblox has been facing heat from regulators around the world. Here is a quick look at where things stand globally:

• Egypt: Nationwide ban announced in early 2026 by the Supreme Council for Media Regulation over harmful content for minors

• Russia: Access blocked in December 2025 by Roskomnadzor over content concerns

• Iraq: Banned earlier, citing child safety and cultural incompatibility

• China, North Korea, Qatar, Algeria: Longstanding restrictions or partial blocks in place

• Indonesia: Similar child safety concerns raised, potential ban being discussed

• Netherlands: The Authority for Consumers and Markets launched a probe in January 2026 into risks to underage users

• Australia: The eSafety Commissioner put Roblox "on notice" in early 2026 over grooming and exploitation reports

• United States: Multiple state-level lawsuits filed, including from Florida, Louisiana, Los Angeles County, and Georgia, along with active investigations by the SEC and FTC