CICC extends Reddit’s deadline to set up PH presence

MANILA, Philippines — The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) on Wednesday allowed online platform Reddit to establish a presence in the country beyond the initial 24-hour deadline in a bid to strengthen cooperation.

The move follows the CICC’s earlier directive to Reddit and Discord to set up offices in the country as part of its efforts to strengthen cooperation amid concerns about rising school violence linked to online groomers.

The extension of the initial 24-hour deadline was made after Reddit responded and coordinated with the agency on Wednesday, CICC Executive Director Undersecretary Renato “Aboy” Paraiso said.

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READ: CICC gives Reddit, Discord 24 hours to set up PH presence

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“We decided to grant them an extension since they responded within the 24 hours and we want to give them the opportunity to work with us because what we want is accountability and a clear mechanism for government to coordinate with the platforms,” he said in a statement.

The agency said officials from Reddit and the CICC held an online meeting earlier to discuss online safety measures for teenagers on Reddit.

Among the matters discussed was the establishment of “green lanes,” or direct channels with Philippine authorities to report, take down and investigate flagged suspicious activities or harmful content online.

These may include “online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC), child abuse and exploitation materials (CSAEM), scams, misinformation, harmful content and materials associated with Nihilistic Violent Extremism (NVE).”

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The agency, moreover, said Reddit expressed its commitment to establishing a local office, as well as creating a team that would coordinate with the CICC.

The timeline and details for the proposed office were not disclosed by the online platform.

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Meanwhile, Discord also responded through a letter, expressing its willingness to work directly with the CICC to discuss initiatives that will protect minors from online exploitation, grooming and exposure to violent content.

Discord also provided details of its existing measures and a newly released “Global Teen Experience” that includes age-appropriate and verification features.

“Discord also offered to brief the CICC on its Family Center tools and its Kodex system, which allows law enforcement agencies to submit lawful takedown and data requests and receive fast-tracked responses,” the agency said.

The CICC said it has not granted Discord the same extension amid pending discussions with the online platform. 

It said they are yet to table “concrete commitments,” particularly on the suspected groups linked with the Nihilistic Violent Extremism (NVE), allegedly involved in the recent school shooting incidents in the country.

“This is particularly important as Philippine authorities continue to examine Discord over the presence of extremist communities on the platform, including groups associated with Nihilistic Violent Extremism (NVE) that have been linked to the radicalization and recruitment of minors involved in the recent school shooting incidents in the country,” the CICC said in its clarificatory statement.

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The CICC earlier released a press release on Tuesday, Sept. 22, ordering the two platforms to establish a presence in the country and submit a written explanation of their safety measures to protect children from online groomers and exposure to violent content. /das/cb