Lead

Philippine authorities have temporarily blocked the online gaming app GoreBox following a rare school shooting in the central Philippines that killed three students and wounded 20 others. The move came after investigators found that one of the two teenage suspects had regularly played the game, which is known for its graphic depictions of violence.

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Centre (CICC) issued a temporary ban on the app as a precautionary measure pending investigation. Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso said authorities "cannot ignore possible online influences that may have contributed to this tragic incident."

Coverage Comparison

The shooting occurred on June 22 at San Jose National High School in Tacloban city, where two suspects—aged 14 and 15—allegedly opened fire with handguns inside a classroom. Police said one of the suspects was an avid user of GoreBox, prompting the temporary block. The game, launched in 2023 by Germany's F2Games, is described on Google Play as allowing players to "engage in brutal combat with an extensive arsenal of weapons and explosives" and features "an intense gore system that brings dismemberment to life." It carries an R18+ rating from the International Age Rating Coalition due to its depictions of extreme violence.

The suspects claimed they were bullied in school and staged the attack as retaliation, according to police interviews reported by both the BBC and The Hindu. One suspect also posted gun-related videos to social media, including footage of himself firing a weapon, as reported by the South China Morning Post.

The temporary block was announced on Wednesday by the CICC, which said it would allow authorities to assess whether the platform played any role in the suspects' actions. "Beyond this temporary ban, we are reinforcing our monitoring efforts to identify online spaces that may pose risks to young users," Paraiso said, adding that the priority is the safety and well-being of Filipino children exposed to the internet.

Mass shootings are rare in the Philippines, though gun-related crimes are not uncommon. The attack has renewed calls to restrict children's access to social media and online games, with lawmakers and cybersecurity experts warning about the potential radicalization of minors online.

Key Claims

  • Three students were killed and 20 others wounded in the school shooting, as reported by multiple outlets including The Guardian, South China Morning Post, and The Hindu.
  • The two suspects, aged 14 and 15, were armed with handguns.
  • One suspect was an avid player of GoreBox, according to police investigations reported by BBC, The Guardian, and The Hindu.
  • The Philippine cybercrime agency temporarily blocked GoreBox, as confirmed by CICC statements cited in BBC, The Guardian, and The Hindu reports.
  • GoreBox is described as a game with graphic depictions of violence and carries an R18+ rating.
  • The suspects claimed they were bullied and staged the attack as retaliation.
  • One suspect posted gun-related videos to social media.
  • Scientists have not found a direct link between video games and violent behavior, as noted in BBC reporting.

Perspectives

Philippine Lawmakers and Cybersecurity Experts

At a Senate hearing on Wednesday, Senator Risa Hontiveros said there were signs that the perpetrators might have been influenced by a violent online extremist network known as 764, which is accused of targeting vulnerable children online. She cautioned that these were "not yet final conclusions" and that the information had been sent to the National Bureau of Investigation for verification. The attack has prompted calls for stricter regulations on minors' access to online platforms.

Philippine Authorities (CICC)

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Centre justified the temporary ban as a precautionary measure and emphasized the need to assess the platform's role. Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso stated that the government is reinforcing monitoring efforts to identify online spaces that may pose risks to young users.

Lawmaker Chel Diokno

Akbayan party-list congressman Chel Diokno called for stiffer penalties for those who allow minors access to firearms, highlighting the issue of underage access to weapons rather than solely focusing on online influences.

Game Developer (F2Games)

F2Games, the German company that developed GoreBox, did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Guardian and BBC.