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In March, the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) rescued seven students, all minors, who were allegedly recruited online and encouraged to commit acts of violence.
Authorities launched the operation after receiving intelligence information from their foreign law enforcement partners regarding suspicious activities within an online gaming community.
The minors had reportedly been communicating with foreign individuals who were allegedly grooming and influencing them to commit illegal acts or engage in activities that could put them in harm.
How can you tell if a child is being recruited online to do harmful deeds?
The PNP-ACG suggested several red flags that parents and adults should watch out for to determine whether a minor may be involved in online communities that promote violence:
- Excessive internet use or prolonged online gaming
- Social withdrawal or distancing themselves from family and friends
- Sleep and appetite disturbances, such as irregular eating and sleeping habits
- Exposure to or consumption of violent content
- Posting or sharing violent content
- Expressions of hopelessness or self-harm
PNP noted that children can become vulnerable to strangers they meet on online platforms, who may influence them to consume violent content and ideologies that encourage harmful behavior.
Authorities have called on parents to closely monitor their children’s online activities, particularly those who spend long hours playing online games.
“Maging ‘digital guardians’ po tayo. Huwag nating iwan ang mga bata na sila lang ang kausap ng screen. Alamin ninyo kung sino ang kalaro nila,” PNP Chief P/Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said.
(Let us become digital guardians. We should not leave children alone with nothing but a screen to interact with. Know who they are playing with.)
“Gaming is a social space. If you wouldn’t let a stranger into your house, don’t let them into your child’s headset or chatbox,” he added.
Incidents
Following the tragic Tacloban school shooting on June 22, authorities temporarily banned the online shooting game GoreBox. Initial investigations alleged that it influenced the 14-year-old and 15-year-old shooters to commit violence.
In April, the online game Roblox nearly faced a ban in the Philippines over reports that it contained inappropriate content and allegedly encouraged children to engage in unlawful activities.
Roblox management pledged to strengthen the platform’s safety safeguards following concerns about child safety.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government has urged Congress to study the issue of violence in online games and craft measures that would help prevent its spread.
Meanwhile, Malacañang has also expressed openness to proposals that would impose stricter regulations on online games containing violent content. —LDF, GMA News
