Daven Tamayo

Telegram, Discord used by extremists to create culture of violence among youth—CICC

Article (news)

THUMBNAIL-CYBER

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Extremist groups have been using messaging apps such as Telegram and Discord to instill a culture of violence among the youth, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said on Friday, days after authorities linked the Tacloban shooting incident to online <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/1/hontiveros-identifies-alleged-adult-groomer-of-tacloban-school-shooters-1042" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">groomers</a> who urge minors to engage in violence and criminality.Authorities have responded to 24 cases where minors — usually aged between 11 and 17 years old — were being lured to commit illegal activities and violent acts to be able to join an online group, said CICC Assistant Secretary Alvin Navarro.“Dito sila i-introduce sa initiation at kung paano magkakaroon ng membership status,” he told state television PTV.“Magkakaroon ng tasking. Halimbawa, ‘Mambasag ng salamin sa mga komunidad ninyo, ipakita ninyo sa amin,’” he said.Minors who complete the task will then proceed to 2 more stages of complying with orders to commit different forms of criminal acts, the assistant secretary said.<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h2jQDGIkcgE?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>“Ang kultura dito ay gino-glorify ang violence at self-harm. ‘Yung mga kabataan na na-indoctrinate na, ’yung mga kabataan na nahikayat na ay gagawa na ng mga krimen,” he said.“Sa kultura nila, ia-upload nila ito at ang tingin sa kanila ay star at celebrity.”Philippine authorities have been coordinating with law enforcement agencies from other countries to track and investigate perpetrators who have been grooming children and teens to become extremists, Navarro said.“Sa mga dadating na araw ay imumungkahi natin sa Kongreso at Senado itong mga measures,” he said, without outlining the CICC’s legislative wishlist to deter the online indoctrination of youngsters into extremist groups.“Hindi sapat yung law enforcement… It will require comprehensive response mula sa level ng tahanan,” he said.In the meantime, the CICC lauded tech giants who have been proactive in helping the government curb the spread of extremism and violence in the Philippines.Google Play has agreed to remove the violence-based game Gorebox on its Play Store in the Philippines, Navarro said.This as the government continues to review loopholes in the age verification process of apps and games in the country.

Extremist groups have been using Telegram and Discord to instill a culture of violence among the youth, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center said.

Extremist groups have been using Telegram and Discord to instill a culture of violence among the youth, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center said.