#video game ban Philippines

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has confirmed that GoreBox is no longer accessible through the Google Play Store and Steam in the Philippines after both platforms complied with the government's request to restrict the game nationwide. The move comes after concerns were raised over the game's accessibility to minors following the recent school shooting in Tacloban City. According to the CICC, users in the Philippines can no longer download the game through Google Play or Steam. Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV has rejected calls for a blanket ban on video games following the deadly shooting at a high school in Tacloban City, saying there is no proven link between video games and school violence. Aquino, who chairs the Senate Committees on Basic Education and Science and Technology, said many studies have found no direct connection between playing video games and incidents of school shootings. He said video games have existed for nearly 50 years and are often blamed whenever violent incidents happen. Instead of banning video games, Aquino urged lawmakers to prioritize the proposed School Safety Act. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is urging Congress to study the impact of violent video games on Filipino youth following the recent school shooting in Tacloban City. Read more in our articles including "CICC confirms GoreBox blocked on Google Play and Steam in PH" and "Bam Aquino backs School Safety Bill over Video Game Ban".