A seemingly harmless gaming session could hide unseen dangers for children, according to a new Senate resolution filed by Senator Risa Hontiveros.
Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution No. 357 on Monday, seeking a Senate inquiry into online gaming platforms, including Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, Call of Duty, and Free Fire, over potential exposure of minors to online sexual abuse, grooming, and other digital threats.
The resolution directs the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality to investigate how these platforms may endanger children and recommend stronger safeguards.
Among the proposed measures are mandatory age verification systems and stricter child protection standards.
Hontiveros cited studies from Philippine law enforcement and international partners, noting that offenders often use gaming chat features to build trust with minors before moving communications to private channels for exploitation.
The measure also referenced recent incidents in the Calabarzon Region, where minors allegedly planned a school attack after exposure to violent content and influence through online gaming chat environments.
Many platforms currently rely on self-declared age verification, which Hontiveros said is inadequate to protect children from predators, impersonation, and harmful content.
The resolution pointed to international practices, noting that countries like Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands are introducing identity verification and facial age estimation technologies for online services used by minors.
Hontiveros emphasized that digital platforms have a duty of care to protect children, while maintaining a balance between child safety, digital innovation, and user privacy.
