Philippines blocks gaming app after deadly school shooting
Authorities moved against an app linked to two student suspects after a shooting in Tacloban killed three students, widening debate over youth safety and firearm access.
Eleanor Whitfield
Writer ·
Philippine authorities have blocked a gaming app linked by officials to two student suspects following a school shooting in Tacloban that killed three students and wounded others.
The move has widened debate over youth safety, bullying, online influence and firearm access in the country.
Background
The attack at a school in the Tacloban area prompted an urgent response from officials, who pointed to the suspects' use of the app as part of their reasoning for the block.
The decision reflects growing official concern about the role online platforms may play in shaping behaviour among young people.
What happens next
Campaigners and policymakers are likely to scrutinise both the evidence connecting the app to the violence and the broader questions of mental health, bullying and access to weapons.
The case adds to international discussion over how governments should respond when digital platforms are implicated in real-world harm.
Source: This summary is based on reporting by Associated Press. The NE Times aggregates and rewrites news for readability; please refer to the original for the full report.
For informational purposes only. The NE Times does not provide live or breaking news coverage — we collect stories from established sources and present them in a readable format. Disclaimer.
You may also like to read
Three students killed in rare Philippines school shooting as Tacloban probes security gaps
Two teenage suspects are in custody after a shooting at a Tacloban high school left three students dead and seven wounded, with investigators examining bullying claims and how firearms reached the campus.
Philippines vows to block Chinese structure at disputed Scarborough Shoal
Manila has confirmed a floating platform at the contested South China Sea feature and lodged a diplomatic protest, while Beijing insists the installation is part of an environmental research mission.
Powerful 7.8 quake strikes off Mindanao, killing dozens in southern Philippines
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake off the southern Philippines killed at least 32 people and triggered tsunami warnings across the region, with General Santos city among the worst hit.
Pressure mounts over scam adverts as fraudsters exploit trusted names
Consumer champions have demanded tougher action on scam adverts after fresh warnings about fraudsters impersonating well-known figures, the Postcode Lottery and major retailers to part the public from their money.