Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a resolution seeking to conduct a Senate investigation into online games such as Roblox and others, citing growing concerns over risks faced by children in digital spaces.

Under Senate Resolution No. 357, Hontiveros urged the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation, with the goal of recommending mandatory age verification protocols and stronger child safety standards for online platforms.

Also included in the resolution are Minecraft, Fortnite, Call of Duty, and Free Fire.

The senator pointed to recent law enforcement intervention in the CALABARZON region involving minors who allegedly planned a school attack after exposure to violent content and interactions in gaming chat environments. The incident, she said, highlights how such platforms may be misused for violent radicalization and coordination.

Hontiveros also underscored the Philippines’ continuing struggle against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC), noting that digital platforms are increasingly being used to facilitate grooming, coercion, and abuse. She cited findings from local and international investigations showing how offenders initiate contact with minors through gaming platforms before moving conversations to private channels.

While multiplayer games enable real-time interaction among users, the resolution noted that many platforms rely on self-declared age systems, which are widely seen as insufficient to protect minors from predators, impersonation, and harmful content.

It cited Republic Act No. 11930, which mandates the State to prevent and respond to technology-facilitated abuse of children. Hontiveros said current safeguards must be strengthened in light of evolving digital threats.

She also cited developments in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands, where enhanced age assurance technologies—including facial age estimation and identity verification—are being required or tested for online services accessed by minors.

“These developments show that stronger child safety mechanisms are both feasible and increasingly becoming global standards,” the resolution stated.

Hontiveros emphasized that digital platforms operating in the Philippines have a duty of care to Filipino children and must implement safeguards proportionate to the risks in their services.

At the same time, the senator stressed that regulation should strike a balance between child protection, innovation, and user privacy. Instead of banning platforms, she said, policymakers should pursue risk-based safety measures, alongside efforts to improve digital literacy and promote responsible gaming among young users.