“Yung mga bagong sinasabi ng ibang mga naapektuhan ng Discord, ginagamit pala nila sa business, ginagamit pala nila sa pag-aaral, hindi pa naka-klaro sa amin yan ng Discord,” Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) Director Wayawaya “Aya” Macalma said Thursday.
Macalma’s admission came after the agency moved to block Discord in the Philippines, disrupting access for users who rely on the platform for work, study, and online communities. She made the remark during the CICC Hotline 1326 program on Radyo Pilipinas and apologized to those affected.
Discord allows people to communicate through text, voice, and video in online groups. It is widely associated with gaming, but its uses go further. Discord itself reported more than 200 million monthly active users worldwide in 2025 and runs a newsletter for business partners. That figure is global; it does not show how many Filipinos use the service for work or school.
The disruption followed a CICC directive giving Discord and Reddit 24 hours to designate a local representative or establish a Philippine presence. The agency also sought information about their safety and age verification measures, warning that failure to comply could lead to restricted access. It cited concerns about online threats to children.
The CICC’s announcements then changed. It initially said both platforms had been granted more time after they contacted the agency. It later clarified that only Reddit received an extension: Reddit officials had met with the CICC online, while Discord had sent a letter expressing willingness to discuss its teen safety measures. The agency said Discord still needed direct talks and concrete commitments.
By Wednesday evening, users reported that Discord was inaccessible on some major Philippine networks, including Globe and DITO. Reports indicated that access varied by provider.
On Thursday, Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary (DICT) Henry Aguda and CICC Executive Director Undersecretary Renato “Aboy” Paraiso announced that the Discord ban had been lifted following talks with the platform. Aguda said officials had spoken with Discord representatives about plans to add safety and online protection measures. During a livestreamed press conference at the House of Representatives, he said, “There is no other motive behind this step.”
Paraiso apologized for the interruption and said authorities were working with Discord to restore access. The platform agreed to provide a direct channel through which Philippine authorities could raise urgent concerns. Reddit remained accessible under its extension.
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