The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has given Reddit and Discord a 24-hour ultimatum to establish offices in the Philippines or face possible restrictions.
The move comes as the CICC addresses growing concerns over the use of online platforms among the youth, citing the “dissemination of violent extremist content and ideologies and the exploitation of minors” following the shooting incident at Banga National High School on September 18.
CICC Acting Executive Director Renato Paraiso said the agency has directed both platforms to assign local representatives and submit written explanations on their current arrangements, as well as concrete plans on safety standards, rapid response mechanisms, and age-verification or age-assurance measures.
Paraiso also urged the platforms to cooperate in addressing the digital exploitation of minors, which he said can fuel real-world violence and physical harm.
To support the initiative, the CICC has tapped the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to hold a coordination meeting with both platforms, along with Meta Platforms, to tackle online trends linked to child violence and exploitation.
Paraiso warned that failure to comply with the 24-hour ultimatum could prompt the agency to restrict operations or block user access to the platforms in the Philippines.
“We are not asking platforms to police the internet for the government but to be reachable, accountable, and responsive when activities on their platforms put Filipino children and communities at risk. When an online threat spills over into the real world, there has to be clear channel for authorities to act,” Paraiso said.
