(Manila News) The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday called on parents to closely monitor their underage children's use of online games to prevent gaming platforms from being used to spread violent extremist ideologies to young people.
PNP Chief Jose Melencio Nartatez stated that while gaming platforms are intended for entertainment and social interaction, they may also be exploited by malicious actors to manipulate users, especially minors.
He pointed out: "We must work together to ensure that children are not incited to break the law, or engage in violence or other illegal activities. Similar cases have occurred in other countries, and we must make sure such problems do not happen in the Philippines."
Nartatez ordered the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) to step up monitoring of online gaming communities and chat platforms to prevent extremists from reaching minors, and to cooperate with platform developers to promptly identify and remove suspicious accounts.
Recently, the PNP-ACG discovered seven minors suspected of being recruited to carry out violent acts in online games, and successfully rescued them. The operation was launched after police received intelligence from overseas law enforcement agencies and found that the children were interacting with foreign players through virtual reality games and in-game communication systems.
It is reported that recruitment and psychological grooming mainly took place through chat groups and online discussions within the platforms. Nartatez stated that police are continuously monitoring and formulating measures to protect minors and prevent them from being encouraged to engage in violence or other illegal acts.
He added that the government is currently examining whether existing laws are sufficient to address the evolving cyber threats.
He pointed out: "We must work together to ensure that children are not incited to break the law, or engage in violence or other illegal activities. Similar cases have occurred in other countries, and we must make sure such problems do not happen in the Philippines."
Nartatez ordered the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) to step up monitoring of online gaming communities and chat platforms to prevent extremists from reaching minors, and to cooperate with platform developers to promptly identify and remove suspicious accounts.
Recently, the PNP-ACG discovered seven minors suspected of being recruited to carry out violent acts in online games, and successfully rescued them. The operation was launched after police received intelligence from overseas law enforcement agencies and found that the children were interacting with foreign players through virtual reality games and in-game communication systems.
It is reported that recruitment and psychological grooming mainly took place through chat groups and online discussions within the platforms. Nartatez stated that police are continuously monitoring and formulating measures to protect minors and prevent them from being encouraged to engage in violence or other illegal acts.
He added that the government is currently examining whether existing laws are sufficient to address the evolving cyber threats.