The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has ordered the full restoration of access to Discord and Reddit in the Philippines after saying both platforms agreed to new measures addressing harmful content and online threats involving minors.
According to the DICT, the agreements include direct “green-lane” channels for Philippine authorities to report exploitation material, grooming activity, and other threats targeting minors. The department also said the platforms committed to stronger age-assurance and default safety measures for younger users, along with continued coordination with Philippine cybercrime agencies.
The DICT described the commitments as binding and enforceable.
The restoration follows several days of rapidly changing government action against the two platforms.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) earlier gave Reddit and Discord 24 hours to establish a Philippine presence and improve coordination with authorities. Reddit was granted an extension after meeting with the CICC and agreeing to establish local representation, according to earlier reporting.
Discord did not receive the same extension. Its ban took effect on the evening of September 23, with access becoming unavailable on at least some Philippine networks. The CICC ordered the ban lifted the following day after meeting with Discord representatives and securing commitments on local coordination and child safety.
This means the two platforms did not follow exactly the same path to Friday’s restoration order: Discord was formally blocked before the government reversed the order, while Reddit had been operating under an extension as talks continued.
Discord had also discussed existing safety tools with Philippine authorities before the block. Its current documentation describes an age-group system that automatically categorizes most users and provides additional methods for users who need to confirm their age.
The DICT has now directed internet service providers and the National Telecommunications Commission to complete the restoration of both services nationwide.