Paulo Avelino questions ban on Discord before it was lifted

Editor's Note: This article and the comments in it were made before the government lifted the ban on Discord on September 24, 2026.

Paulo Avelino has criticized the government’s decision to block Discord in the Philippines, pointing out that the platform is used for much more than gaming and urging authorities to address online safety concerns without disrupting people who rely on it.

The 38-year-old actor shared his thoughts on X after the US tech platform was blocked earlier this week. “First world countries: Discord, add age verification. Philippines: Discord, bye,” Avelino wrote.

He noted that Discord is used by thousands of Filipinos for more than gaming. “People use Discord for work meetings, school, and running small businesses. Block it and they all get hit, while bad actors just move to another app,” he added.

Avelino argued that blocking Discord could simply push perpetrators to other platforms. “Child safety matters. So fix the actual problem, not just the easiest target!” he stressed. Other Filipino creators also raised concerns about the restriction.

Cosplayer, gamer, and content creator Alodia Gosiengfiao also questioned the government’s decision. In a brief Facebook post, she highlighted the contrast between Discord being blocked and online gambling apps remaining accessible, pointing to what she saw as an inconsistency in the government’s approach.

Voice actor and content creator Kat Langomez, known online as KiraKiraKat, meanwhile, focused on how the restriction could affect people who depend on Discord for work.

In a post on X, she said she relies on the platform for her livelihood as an artist and voice actor involved in game development.

“The digital sector supports a massive portion of our national workforce across IT, creative arts, and game development. A hasty, blanket restriction risks crippling these essential industries,” she wrote.

KiraKiraKat also explained that remote work is especially important to her as a parent. “As a single mother raising a child with special needs, remote work is not just a convenience; it is my family’s lifeline,” she said.

She said Discord is part of her day-to-day workflow, including production pipelines, asset management, and real-time collaboration with global creative teams.

KiraKiraKat argued that the focus should be on digital media literacy, mental health support, and parental oversight rather than restricting communication platforms.

“Abruptly blocking communication channels does not solve online risks; it merely displaces them while inflicting massive collateral damage on law-abiding digital workers.” 

The reactions came after the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) ordered Discord to be blocked on September 23. The agency cited concerns about the platform’s use by online communities linked to violent extremism, grooming, and other threats involving minors.

The CICC said Discord failed to reach an agreement on opening a local office in the Philippines. The platform was also asked to appoint a resident agent in the country to speed up cooperation with law enforcement agencies. A similar blocking order was also issued to Reddit, which has committed to complying with the government’s requirement.

The government’s action came amid concerns about violent extremist content and the exploitation of minors online. These concerns followed the Sept. 18 shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato, the third school shooting incident recorded in the country this year after incidents in Tacloban City in June and at Ateneo de Zamboanga University in August.

Authorities said extremist networks had used various online platforms, including Discord, to entice schoolchildren to commit acts of violence.