The DICT hopes success with integrating Roblox’s age verification mechanisms with the national ID system can serve as a technical and policy template that Meta can follow
MANILA, Philippines – Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda said the agency hopes success with integrating Roblox’s age verification mechanisms with the national ID system can serve as a technical and policy template that Meta can follow when it comes to social media age verification.
During the House committee on appropriations’ DICT budget hearing on Monday, September 7, Aguda was asked about the outcome of the meeting with Meta in Singapore as it related to age verification.
He explained that during the meeting — with social media company Meta Platforms and game development platform company Roblox — Roblox themselves broached the topic of using an integration of the Philippines’ national ID with their age verification systems.
According to Aguda, such a proposed system would simply be a qualifier to determine if a user is a certain age that can use specific age tiers of Roblox accounts. He said there is an eVerify solution within the national ID system that may allow for such to happen.
“Kahit na wala pang physical card, basta yung digital biometrics niyo nandoon na sa Philippine Statistics Authority, puwede na sila mag API calls.” (Even wihout a physical card, as long as the digital biometrics are with the Philippine Statistics Authority, they can make API calls.) These API or Application Programming Interface calls would allow Roblox to tell if a user is getting the content appropriate for their account.
According to Aguda, Meta cited technical complexities in performing this as it has not done such an integration anywhere in the world, and is worried that it would make around 170 countries it serves follow suit in requesting similar accommodations.
Meta is making some changes to how it operates in the United States in light of a settlement with US states that would add limits to how teens gain access and use its various social media platforms.
Aguda said Meta will send a technical working team to study the feasibility of the plans they’ve discussed with the DICT.
“We are hoping that if Roblox is successful in the integration, it can become a technical and policy template for the other social media platforms to follow,” Aguda said in a mix of English and Filipino.
The DICT is seeking P19.491 billion for its fiscal year 2027 budget. – Rappler.com
