Meta, Roblox agree to child-safety measures sought by Philippines, minister says

Meta Platforms and gaming company Roblox have reached an agreement with the Philippine government to strengthen child-safety protections for local users, according to Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda. The newly agreed safety measures include age-verification protocols, parental controls, faster removal of harmful content, and enhanced cooperation with local law enforcement agencies. Additionally, Roblox aims to establish a local office in the Philippines as early as October, while Meta plans to dispatch a team to Manila to coordinate expanding its operational presence. The regulatory developments in Southeast Asia follow closely behind a landmark settlement in the United States, where Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion over a ten-year period while implementing teen safety limits to settle lawsuits brought by U.S. states. The Philippine discussions were held as lawmakers weigh stricter online safety legislation for minors, including potential social media bans, following high-profile violent incidents. The willingness of both major tech platforms to cooperate underscores rising global regulatory compliance costs for social media companies.