NEWS UPDATE | Discord block draws backlash from Filipino freelancers, tech users
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) initially gave Discord and Reddit 24 hours to designate local representatives and establish mechanisms for coordination with Philippine authorities.
The reported blocking of Discord in the Philippines has drawn criticism from Filipino virtual assistants, freelancers, developers and technology-sector figures who say the communications platform has become part of their work and livelihood.
The reactions followed government action against Discord and Reddit over concerns about online child safety, violent extremism and the use of digital platforms for harmful activities.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) initially gave Discord and Reddit 24 hours to designate local representatives and establish mechanisms for coordination with Philippine authorities. The agency warned that failure to comply could lead to restrictions or a prohibition on access.
By 7 p.m. on Sept. 23, Discord was inaccessible to subscribers of Globe and DITO, according to user reports and technology media checks. Access was also reported to be unavailable on GOMO and TNT, while Discord remained accessible to users of Smart and Converge.
As of the morning of Sept. 24, Discord remained accessible on the Smart and PLDT networks in some areas, although there were also reports of users on those networks experiencing difficulties accessing the platform. User reports similarly indicated that availability could vary depending on the network, location and service being used.
The uneven access indicated that the restriction was not being experienced as a uniform nationwide outage. GGWPTech reported that Globe users were being served a block page carrying the logos of the National Telecommunications Commission and Globe, stating that access had been blocked pursuant to an NTC directive.
The developments triggered reactions from technology professionals and digital-work advocates on social media.
Jeffrey Ian Dy, a cybersecurity specialist and former Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) undersecretary, identified several Discord communities serving Filipino gig workers, including Barangay VA Helpdesk, Nexus Digital Nomads Community and Jobcord Jobs.
Dy, who previously held senior cybersecurity and information-security positions in government, said these communities provide access to work opportunities for virtual assistants and other digital workers.
He argued that blocking Discord could affect legitimate workers who have no connection to the activities that prompted the government’s action.
Ann Cuisia, founder and CEO of technology and fintech company TraXion Tech, similarly said Discord has evolved beyond its original gaming use.
“Discord is not just for gaming,” Cuisia said in a social-media post, pointing to community moderators, developers, freelancers, remote workers and online teams that use the platform daily.
“Blocking access doesn’t just affect a platform—it disrupts livelihoods,” she said.
Cuisia has also participated in discussions on Philippine technology legislation and cybersecurity policy.
Edison Go Tan, a technology entrepreneur and CEO of Hubnob, questioned the use of platform-wide restrictions to address specific illegal or harmful activity.
Tan argued that banning or restricting an entire platform could punish legitimate users while failing to address the underlying activities targeted by authorities. He also warned of possible effects on businesses, online communities and technology companies operating in the Philippines.
“The question should not simply be, ‘What can we ban?'” Tan wrote. “It should be, “What actually solves the problem without causing greater damage in the process?'”
MK Bertulfo, founder and CEO of FHMoms, a large Filipino community for home-based workers and freelancers, also posted about the reported blocking.
Bertulfo’s FHMoms community grew from an online support group for Filipinos seeking home-based work and has since developed into a large network for freelancers and remote workers.
Other posts focused on the reported NTC action against Discord.
Technology and digital-media entrepreneur Carlo Ople, founder of Unbox.ph, posted, “Talagang they banned Discord,” while criticizing the government agencies involved in the action.
Pierre Tito Galla, an electronics engineer and co-founder and co-convener of internet-rights advocacy group Democracy.Net.PH, raised a separate concern over the legal basis for blocking access to the platform.
Galla invoked the Supreme Court’s ruling in Disini v. Secretary of Justice, which struck down Section 19 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act authorizing the Department of Justice to restrict access to computer data that it found prima facie to violate the law.
He questioned whether executive agencies could impose site or platform blocking without judicial proceedings.
The legal issue remains separate from the government’s stated concerns. The CICC has said its actions are aimed at making platforms reachable and accountable when online activity poses risks to Filipino children and communities.
The National Privacy Commission has also issued show-cause orders to Meta, Roblox, Reddit and Discord over alleged noncompliance with registration requirements under the Data Privacy Act and NPC Circular 16-03.
The reactions extend beyond opposition to the Discord action itself. They raise questions about how Philippine authorities can address harmful activity on global platforms while preserving access for legitimate users, including Filipinos whose jobs and businesses depend on those platforms.
Full disclosure: All news articles published on the TechSabado website are written by human journalists, unless otherwise specified. Final text editing is also performed by human editors, with artificial intelligence (AI) used only to assist with additional grammar and style guide corrections..
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