Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) chief Henry Aguda on Thursday, Sept. 24, said that the government’s directives on some online platforms have no other motives.
His pronouncements came after the DICT, together with its attached agency Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), announced it lifted the ban imposed on Discord.
‘There is no other motive behind this step,’ he said during a live streamed press conference at the House of Representatives on Thursday.
Aguda earlier said that they already talked with representatives of Discord regarding their plans to install safety and online protection measures on the platform.
It also assured the two agencies that it will establish a presence in the country.
The Cabinet official said Discord and Reddit designated representatives who will coordinate with the government.
‘Through direct engagement with Discord, we want to ensure that the platform takes concrete and immediate steps to reduce the threat to our Filipino youth,’ he added.
The move was made following the recent school shooting in Banga National High School in South Cotabato on Sept. 18 that killed three students.
CICC previously said rising violence in campuses may be influenced by the presence of online groomers in the platforms