The Philippines has banned a first-person shooter video game following claims that the military-style online game was used to train the gunman who killed 12 people in a Jakarta shopping mall last week. The ban comes as UK gaming regulators face fresh pressure to tighten controls over violent video games amid fears that they are being exploited by extremists.
Sources in Manila confirm that President Rodrigo Duterte signed an executive order on Tuesday prohibiting the sale and distribution of 'Counter-Strike: Global Offensive' in the Philippines. The government alleges that the game was used by the Jakarta attacker, identified as 24-year-old university student Ahmad Rifai, to practice shooting techniques and coordinate the assault. 'We have evidence that Rifai spent hours playing this game in internet cafes,' a Philippine intelligence official told this reporter. 'It desensitised him to violence and taught him how to shoot.'
The ban follows a leaked police report from Jakarta that describes how Rifai used the game to simulate the attack. The game allows players to choose a team of terrorists or counter-terrorists and engage in bomb-planting and hostage-taking scenarios. It is one of the most popular esports titles globally, with millions of players worldwide.
Meanwhile, the UK's Gambling Commission has announced a review of its policy on in-game purchases and loot boxes after concerns that they may be used to launder money for terrorist groups. Documents obtained from a Home Office briefing earlier this month reveal that officials are worried about the ease with which extremist organisations can use virtual currencies to move funds across borders. 'We are examining the potential for in-game economies to be exploited for illicit financial flows,' a Gambling Commission spokesperson said. 'This is a growing area of concern.'
The review will consider whether loot boxes - randomised virtual items bought with real or in-game currency - should be classified as gambling under UK law. Critics argue that the current system is opaque and leaves the door open for abuse. 'You can buy a loot box for a few quid, sell the rare items on third-party sites, and the money is untraceable,' said cybersecurity analyst Sarah Jenkins of the Royal United Services Institute. 'It's a perfect vehicle for money laundering.'
The UK's move follows a similar investigation by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission into the use of gaming platforms for tax evasion and money laundering. The Republic of Korea has already banned the resale of in-game items in an effort to curb such practices.
But the focus remains on the Philippines, where the ban on 'Counter-Strike: Global Offensive' has caused a storm. Game developers Valve Corporation have protested the decision, arguing that there is no evidence linking the game to real-world violence. 'We are deeply disappointed by this ban,' a Valve spokesperson said. 'Our games are enjoyed by millions of responsible players around the world.' The ban has also drawn criticism from free speech advocates. 'This is a knee-jerk reaction that does nothing to address the underlying causes of radicalisation,' said Jose Manuel Santos, a lawyer at the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.
The Indonesian police have yet to confirm the link between the shooter and the game. But the timing of the ban suggests that Philippine authorities are under pressure to act decisively ahead of the ASEAN summit in November, where regional security will be top of the agenda.
For now, the gaming industry is bracing for further crackdowns. The UK review is expected to report back in six months. But with election season looming, politicians on both sides of the Atlantic are keen to be seen as tough on terror. And that could mean that video games, long blamed for everything from school shootings to obesity, are about to come under a more intense political microscope.
