Philippines Pushes for Stronger ASEAN Action Against Digital Threats

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is pushing for stronger regional action against harmful content, online scams, and rising digital threats within the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). “The Philippines cannot deal with these challenges alone, and neither can any ASEAN member state. What we achieved in Singapore shows that engagement can produce results, but ASEAN acting together can achieve much more,” said ICT Secretary Henry Rhoel R. Aguda in a media release on Wednesday. The agency is pushing for accountability from big tech companies at the ASEAN meeting following its recent agreement with Roblox and Meta in Singapore. Roblox is an online gaming platform that allows users to interact within a virtual environment and engage with other players. Earlier this week, Roblox and Meta said they will strengthen their child safety measures, with Meta committing to remove harmful artificial intelligence deepfakes on its platforms. “The better solution is stronger cooperation, clearer accountability and faster response. ASEAN represents nearly 700 million people. We should use that collective strength to build stronger partnerships with the world’s biggest technology companies,” he said. The agency will bring the issue to the Ministerial Roundtable Meeting in October. Roblox has also said that it will further boost safeguards for younger users and will collaborate more closely with Philippine authorities on age verification, parental controls and other child safety measures. “If Big Tech wants access to the ASEAN market, accountability to ASEAN governments and protection of ASEAN citizens must come with that access,” Mr. Aguda said. — Ashley Erika O. Jose