'Game over?': Imee warns Roblox of total ban if changes are not implemented
Senator Imee Marcos (Senate PRIB photo)
Senator Imee Marcos has warned Roblox against total ban if it won't immediately act on addressing child safety and online abuse on its platform.
Roblox gameplay (Screenshot from Rain Anthony Quismorio)
According to Marcos, it is going to be a "game over" for the online gaming platform if it won't comply with changes it is being asked to implement to protect the children.
Her warning came as she said it is "embarrassing" that the country saw continuous increase in child exploitation cases.
"Naging number two na tayo sa child exploitation—nakakahiya (We have become top two in child exploitation cases across the world. It's embarassing)," Marcos said.
The senator then gave the platform three months to fix its system.
Within this period, she said, Roblox should prove that its new safeguards are effective and that previous complaints have already been addressed. Otherwise, the platform will be totally banned, she said.
Among measures Marcos proposed included the establishment of a centralized database in line with the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC), which will come up with a list of online sexual abuse and exploitation cases.
Marcos said separate investigations of different government agencies will not work against organized crimes.
Marcos also called out the complicated interface of Roblox, which she said is not user-friendly for parents or the older ones, who are trying to monitor the platform.
The senator also proposed that a Roblox staff should be dedicated exclusively for the Philippines to monitor activities in the platform.
“Kung hindi talaga kayang i-regulate, suspindehin na lang (If they cannot be regulated, then let's just suspend them)," she said.