[NEWS]Philippines blocks gambling sites on government public Wi-Fi network

[Maslate]

I don't usually use free Wi-Fi network when I'm out. But with this news, I think this is good as this is being rolled out by our government not to be used in gambling, but during emergencies when you have to contract someone.

It might have added some operation cost if I'm not mistaken, as the Wi-Fi provider will have to provide a filter on everyone uses this free services. But overall, it's a good move by our government not to be taken advantage by gamblers.

Exactly. If I'm not mistaken, this public wifi or ''free wifi for all'' is here to bridge the digital divide. It can be seen useful to access online education, government services and employment opportunities, in which gambling is not an inclusion. So its really a smart move to block gambling sites as it does not serve for that purpose, but to aid people in their basic needs without incurring personal mobile data costs.

However, using this public wifi networks are often unencrypted and are prone to hackers, so people should take extra caution on using it.

[arwin100]

I don't usually use free Wi-Fi network when I'm out. But with this news, I think this is good as this is being rolled out by our government not to be used in gambling, but during emergencies when you have to contract someone.

It might have added some operation cost if I'm not mistaken, as the Wi-Fi provider will have to provide a filter on everyone uses this free services. But overall, it's a good move by our government not to be taken advantage by gamblers.

Exactly. If I'm not mistaken, this public wifi or ''free wifi for all'' is here to bridge the digital divide. It can be seen useful to access online education, government services and employment opportunities, in which gambling is not an inclusion. So its really a smart move to block gambling sites as it does not serve for that purpose, but to aid people in their basic needs without incurring personal mobile data costs.

However, using this public wifi networks are often unencrypted and are prone to hackers, so people should take extra caution on using it.

Agree, because public wifi is accessible to anyone and its good move to protect young people to avoid accessing those risky site and addiction.

So I have no problem with those implementation and I find that positive action done by government. Gambling should be for people in right age and for making sure this is not easy to be access by minors it could possibly lessen up the cases of bad gambling effects. Also I find public wifi as risky and I don't recommend people to use it especially for those have online financial dealings.

[Finestream]

What's your opinion on this? Personally, I think it's common sense that they would implement the restrictions of blocking websites like online casinos and porn, even if people can easily bypass the restriction using VPNs, especially when this program can be accessible to everyone, including children/students.

They have the choice to block that since it's only for free. But the risk is much higher when people connect to these public wi-fi's, they have no idea how risky it is if someone from there in the public creates as well a fake public wi-fi and people who's got important docs on their phones and apps might be compromised. Although that's a different topic from this one. As for our government, they know that there are a lot of our countrymen who are engaged into online gambling and this is one of their responses to it when they can do more better things to combat it.

Since its a government wifi, then definitely its for the people to be taken advantage of, but not in the personal interest of the people to get rich quick from gambling. Online gambling has certainly increased the number of addicts, and if public wifi will be used for that, that's good to say that the government may also be accountable for the future of these gamblers. Although the government may have legalized online gambling, but it should be dealt with high responsibility of the users.

However, you are right there that public wifi should not be used for important transactions because everything that connected to free wifi will be highly vulnerable for hackers.

[Wakate]

Well, at list it's better than completely banning gambling from the country just like what some other countries have done in the past. There are always lots of people in every country who are lovers of gambling and it's difficult for them to handle the fact that gambling is ban. In this case, players who are so in love with gambling can still use their personal service provider to browse the gambling website that they are using, meanwhile those who do not really have big interest in gambling will still use the opportunity to stop gambling. Personal, I don't think this is a big problem.

This will reduce the possiblity of people that like free WiFi without using their money to subscribe when they know that they often gamble on different casinos trying to make money. This is okay if the government chooses to restrict people from accessing casinos through their public WiFi. Those that know that they can not do without gambling will have to go buy their own data if they are serious about gambling to make money.

[Hispo]

To me it makes sense the government of a country like Philippines decides to get some restrictions in place when comes to their public wifi access. They are trying to control the spreading of pornography and gambling in their country and this is a way to do it.

Perhaps it is not the best way, as it would imply there is some censorship being pushed by the government of that country, it would better if they just decided to offer more education and literacy to their citizens, instead of not allowing them to do what they want with their time and money.

Also, I had no idea gambling and pornography were such huge troubles there in Philippines. I would have guessed their most important societal problem was sex tourism and not gambling.

[Chinesebaby]

According to the article, the Philippines blocks online gambling sites and porn on public Wi-Fi that it provides nationwide. From what I understand, the goal of the free Wi-Fi for all program is "to expand internet access to underserved areas, including geographically isolated and disadvantaged communities.". The article also said that the government is working with the Department of Education to encourage "to encourage digital literacy and responsible online behavior among students, while also providing cybersecurity training for teachers, parents and local communities.". The government also acknowledged that people who will use the free public WI-Fi might bypass the restriction through VPNs, they also said that they "continue to strengthen the monitoring and filtering system".

What's your opinion on this? Personally, I think it's common sense that they would implement the restrictions of blocking websites like online casinos and porn, even if people can easily bypass the restriction using VPNs, especially when this program can be accessible to everyone, including children/students.

Providing free Internet connection for children/students in the local areas by the Philippines government was actually a very good initiative, but sometimes being able to monitor what these students does with this free Internet connection is one thing that has always been very difficult. So for the Philippines government to have come up with a strategy to block both porn sites and gambling sites for users of its free WiFi, then it is obvious that maybe the government might have seen lots of youths in that country engage in gambling and watching of porn. So for me, I'm very okay with this rules, until these children are old enough to be of the legal age to gamble.

[Orpichukwu]

What's your opinion on this? Personally, I think it's common sense that they would implement the restrictions of blocking websites like online casinos and porn, even if people can easily bypass the restriction using VPNs, especially when this program can be accessible to everyone, including children/students.

Nothing bad has been done here; since the network is free, they need to ban things which they don't largely support. Besides, porn websites are largely banned in the country, and gambling is also largely regulated in the Connery. Anyone who wants to use those sites should be able to afford and use their own personal internet and not the public one. I support their decision; even if it will be bypassed, it's better than leaving it open for the safety of the underage. Such restrictions are necessary.

[CryptSafe]

Well the government have every right to block and unblock whatever they deem fit to taking such exercise on as long as they are solely responsible for servicing it. Besides they blocked access to it and not put a ban so anybody who wants to gamble should use their private data and leave the government Internet for those who the government deem fit for it.  After all " in free town there is nothing free " so no one should expect to get or be using free thing and not expect to keep to the rules of what they are enjoying for free. If you must use something free, you must be able to abide by the rules.

Unfortunately, it seems like the government restricts gambling websites "as a whole" without even doing any research on their part.

The reason on why I saying this is because they have restricted in our country access to this forum as they are categorized as a "gambling website" which does not make any sense at all. While the government has indeed the power to prohibit and restrict access to any kind of website that are against law, public morals, and public policy, they must still exercise this with careful discretion on their part in order to prevent any abuse from their part.

Restricting access to this platform means they are uninformed and are doing things out of ignorance. Maybe they had decided to forgo the benefits of revenue generation and other benefits just for certain reasons best known to them. So anyone using a gambling website in that country should be very careful, as they might be very strict with their laws.

[Hispo]

What's your opinion on this? Personally, I think it's common sense that they would implement the restrictions of blocking websites like online casinos and porn, even if people can easily bypass the restriction using VPNs, especially when this program can be accessible to everyone, including children/students.

Nothing bad has been done here; since the network is free, they need to ban things which they don't largely support. Besides, porn websites are largely banned in the country, and gambling is also largely regulated in the Connery. Anyone who wants to use those sites should be able to afford and use their own personal internet and not the public one. I support their decision; even if it will be bypassed, it's better than leaving it open for the safety of the underage. Such restrictions are necessary.

If those restrictions are necessary, then I would say it becomes even more necessary to educate the youth of Philippines about gaming and pornography, because a ban like this from public wifi hotspots won't solve the problem by its own.
It would be similar to banning alcohol or tobacco,they demand continues to be there and as long as there is demand, there will be people willing to their their freedoms in order to get money with illegal supply.

Those problems will cease to exist when the government of any country understand they need to tackle the root of the problem,.instead of consequences.

[blockman]

They have the choice to block that since it's only for free. But the risk is much higher when people connect to these public wi-fi's, they have no idea how risky it is if someone from there in the public creates as well a fake public wi-fi and people who's got important docs on their phones and apps might be compromised. Although that's a different topic from this one. As for our government, they know that there are a lot of our countrymen who are engaged into online gambling and this is one of their responses to it when they can do more better things to combat it.

Since its a government wifi, then definitely its for the people to be taken advantage of, but not in the personal interest of the people to get rich quick from gambling. Online gambling has certainly increased the number of addicts, and if public wifi will be used for that, that's good to say that the government may also be accountable for the future of these gamblers. Although the government may have legalized online gambling, but it should be dealt with high responsibility of the users.

However, you are right there that public wifi should not be used for important transactions because everything that connected to free wifi will be highly vulnerable for hackers.

So, it's a good step from what they did and that's one of their ways in controlling the people to use government resource just to gamble. We know how big the gambling industry is in the country and that's why awareness of it should also be spread and not only to the blockage of the gambling sites through their public wifi. I think that the main purpose of it is to make people connected and enjoy their stay in the public places but, this isn't the only concern here when they connect to it about gambling but also data leakage and hacking.

[AVE5]

Well, at list it's better than completely banning gambling from the country just like what some other countries have done in the past. There are always lots of people in every country who are lovers of gambling and it's difficult for them to handle the fact that gambling is ban. In this case, players who are so in love with gambling can still use their personal service provider to browse the gambling website that they are using, meanwhile those who do not really have big interest in gambling will still use the opportunity to stop gambling. Personal, I don't think this is a big problem.

This will reduce the possiblity of people that like free WiFi without using their money to subscribe when they know that they often gamble on different casinos trying to make money. This is okay if the government chooses to restrict people from accessing casinos through their public WiFi. Those that know that they can not do without gambling will have to go buy their own data if they are serious about gambling to make money.

That's a very valid point at your opinions because some will feel like the government restricting users from access those platforms strictly through the provisions of the public Internet's accessibilities
However, the change of the system doesn't seem so harsh for gamblers since it's learnt that the individuals at their own energy and disposals of sorting alternative on the Internet matters could still have legal access on those delisted platforms if they could provide themselves personal Internet's accessibility.
Of all, this will cause Inconveniencing of reducing number of gamblers in the place after which many won't be in opportune to provide the internet themselves.

[LastKiss]

~snip~
What's your opinion on this? Personally, I think it's common sense that they would implement the restrictions of blocking websites like online casinos and porn, even if people can easily bypass the restriction using VPNs, especially when this program can be accessible to everyone, including children/students.

They do care about the country future generation so blocking dangerous websites is the right decision especially when underage users can easily access the internet through public Wi-Fi. Many harmful websites spread through ads and social media, and they can make student curiosity appear especially their curiosity at high level. Once exposed, some young people may develop addictions to things like gambling and porn. People who are already addicted will often try to bypass restrictions using VPNs but those who are not curious about such content may never even think about searching for it in the first place

[SFR10]

they also said that they "continue to strengthen the monitoring and filtering system".

What's your opinion on this? Personally, I think it's common sense that they would implement the restrictions of blocking websites like online casinos and porn, even if people can easily bypass the restriction using VPNs, especially when this program can be accessible to everyone, including children/students.

It depends on whether there's an ulterior motive behind it! If they'll be using the public Wi-Fi to run a pilot program, nothing good comes out of it... It always starts small before it turns out to be a lot bigger than most would probably imagine ^{[e.g., they begin with improving their filtering system in dealing with VPNs & detecting any website that belongs to either of those two categories and then, they'd eventually expand it to other categories (this is the part that scares me the most since they might even invest in improving their Intranet as well and that's when Great Firewall of China 2.0 might be born)]}.

[acroman08]

Also, I had no idea gambling and pornography were such huge troubles there in Philippines. I would have guessed their most important societal problem was sex tourism and not gambling.

Yeah, the gambling problem here in the Philippines has significantly increased in recent years, especially when online casinos became popular and a lot of them started popping up here. As for pornography, the Philippines has ranked number one multiple times as the country that spends the longest time when visiting a porn site, but that probably has something to do with our internet, which can be slow at times. So, the government's decision to block these sites on the free wi-fi they are providing is very reasonable from their point of view, and I actually agree with them.

[Satofan44]

Also, I had no idea gambling and pornography were such huge troubles there in Philippines. I would have guessed their most important societal problem was sex tourism and not gambling.

Yeah, the gambling problem here in the Philippines has significantly increased in recent years, especially when online casinos became popular and a lot of them started popping up here. As for pornography, the Philippines has ranked number one multiple times as the country that spends the longest time when visiting a porn site, but that probably has something to do with our internet, which can be slow at times. So, the government's decision to block these sites on the free wi-fi they are providing is very reasonable from their point of view, and I actually agree with them.

The addictiveness of various behaviors such as gambling is increasing and becoming more widespread, surely it is not just limited to Philippines. We see these trends in many other countries, although this one might be suffering an above average negative effect. Measures that combat these things should always be utilized, and people who are against such measures should be silenced. Humanity does not need to listen to every twisted individual that is simply a parasite in society. Many measures are objectively good, and as such they should be ubiquitously welcomed. Public internet should actually be the most restricted kind. Here is one example: Should someone be able to do massive downloads of whatever content using the public internet? Of course not, why should they be given this privilege? Why should someone else pay money so that some retard can download things that he believes he can't go without? Public internet is not free internet, it is paid by the taxpayer, and the taxpayer should get the best for his money -- hence why it should be very restricted of focused on useful and important things.

they also said that they "continue to strengthen the monitoring and filtering system".

What's your opinion on this? Personally, I think it's common sense that they would implement the restrictions of blocking websites like online casinos and porn, even if people can easily bypass the restriction using VPNs, especially when this program can be accessible to everyone, including children/students.

It depends on whether there's an ulterior motive behind it! If they'll be using the public Wi-Fi to run a pilot program, nothing good comes out of it... It always starts small before it turns out to be a lot bigger than most would probably imagine ^{[e.g., they begin with improving their filtering system in dealing with VPNs & detecting any website that belongs to either of those two categories and then, they'd eventually expand it to other categories (this is the part that scares me the most since they might even invest in improving their Intranet as well and that's when Great Firewall of China 2.0 might be born)]}.

And even if there was an ulterior motive, so what? If you can't learn to fucking behave yourself, you should be filtered -- it is the consequence of your own actions. You are all surrounded by at least some gambling, porn, or other addicts. You get what you tolerate, and consequences are coming for various things because the average "adult" is not able to fucking behave better than a 3 year old toddler. There would have never been a need to introduce this ban in the first place if people knew how to behave -- which they don't. Most (but not all) things come as a result of idiots who are in adult bodies, the more you tolerate shitheads and their behaviors the worse the world gets.

[Questat]

Here is one example: Should someone be able to do massive downloads of whatever content using the public internet? Of course not, why should they be given this privilege? Why should someone else pay money so that some retard can download things that he believes he can't go without? Public internet is not free internet, it is paid by the taxpayer, and the taxpayer should get the best for his money -- hence why it should be very restricted of focused on useful and important things.

I think anything that gives public access is usually configured that way. It is not only limited to public WiFi paid by taxpayers’ money.

Even in schools, where students are paying for access one way or another, there are still many restrictions. I’m sure porn and gambling sites are also restricted there. So it looks like they follow a standard when it comes to implementation, especially if the network is meant for public or student use.

But if we really want to gamble using public WiFi, it is still possible in places like restaurants or coffee shops. The thing is, that is not really free anymore. The WiFi may be free, but you still need to buy food or drinks, which can be more expensive than just buying mobile data. 

So for gamblers, it is probably better to just use personal data instead of public WiFi. Less hassle, less restriction, and less risk with shared IP issues.

[SFR10]

And even if there was an ulterior motive, so what? If you can't learn to fucking behave yourself, you should be filtered -- it is the consequence of your own actions.

You have a point, but what I mentioned goes beyond the gambling & porn industries! If they go down that path, nothing could stop them from switching off the internet one day and forcing their own people to rely on whatever service/platform is available within their intranet ^{[it's a private network that they fully control, so users will be left with local platforms that mostly offer subpar services/products and there'll be little to no competition]}.

[Orpichukwu]

Nothing bad has been done here; since the network is free, they need to ban things which they don't largely support. Besides, porn websites are largely banned in the country, and gambling is also largely regulated in the Connery. Anyone who wants to use those sites should be able to afford and use their own personal internet and not the public one. I support their decision; even if it will be bypassed, it's better than leaving it open for the safety of the underage. Such restrictions are necessary.

If those restrictions are necessary, then I would say it becomes even more necessary to educate the youth of Philippines about gaming and pornography, because a ban like this from public wifi hotspots won't solve the problem by its own.
It would be similar to banning alcohol or tobacco,they demand continues to be there and as long as there is demand, there will be people willing to their their freedoms in order to get money with illegal supply.

Those problems will cease to exist when the government of any country understand they need to tackle the root of the problem,.instead of consequences.

There was or used to be an awareness programme about gambling and adult content in the country which has some educational videos which are created to help pass the proper message to the targeted audience; whether it reaches them or not is what I really don't know, but one thing, according to this source, is that they are not just focused on banning, but they also put some effort into educating, as we all know there have never been any proven patterns which have produced 100% positive results; there will always be those who won't want to see those messages as something that will be useful to them.

[Davidvictorson]

What's your opinion on this? Personally, I think it's common sense that they would implement the restrictions of blocking websites like online casinos and porn, even if people can easily bypass the restriction using VPNs, especially when this program can be accessible to everyone, including children/students.

Well, the government is doing what is right for them and the people.
In my estimation, this is good for the people as well because to the best of my knowledge public wifis are not secured and therefore aren't safe.

Will this prevent people from gambling, well I don't think so but it sure will help those who will use the free wifi for research and learning other helpful stuff.

While it is true that people who gamble may be able to by-pass it using VPN, we should note that some online casino website flag users account who access their website using a VPN and this could cause be an issue for them.

[Satofan44]

Here is one example: Should someone be able to do massive downloads of whatever content using the public internet? Of course not, why should they be given this privilege? Why should someone else pay money so that some retard can download things that he believes he can't go without? Public internet is not free internet, it is paid by the taxpayer, and the taxpayer should get the best for his money -- hence why it should be very restricted of focused on useful and important things.

I think anything that gives public access is usually configured that way. It is not only limited to public WiFi paid by taxpayers’ money.

Even in schools, where students are paying for access one way or another, there are still many restrictions. I’m sure porn and gambling sites are also restricted there. So it looks like they follow a standard when it comes to implementation, especially if the network is meant for public or student use.

But if we really want to gamble using public WiFi, it is still possible in places like restaurants or coffee shops. The thing is, that is not really free anymore. The WiFi may be free, but you still need to buy food or drinks, which can be more expensive than just buying mobile data. 

So for gamblers, it is probably better to just use personal data instead of public WiFi. Less hassle, less restriction, and less risk with shared IP issues.

I was just giving an example of what else should not be allowed with an explanation of why it shouldn't. Clearly, not all networks are properly configured yet otherwise this topic would not exist -- these measures would have been done ages ago, but they weren't so the banning of such websites only comes now. Limiting the speed and banning most gambling websites is very similar in the effort needed to set it up. There is no good reason for anyone at all to protest a measure like this at least not for reasons that are limited to the measure itself and its point, other concerns such as what I am talking about with SRF10 go deeper into other topics and issues.

And even if there was an ulterior motive, so what? If you can't learn to fucking behave yourself, you should be filtered -- it is the consequence of your own actions.

You have a point, but what I mentioned goes beyond the gambling & porn industries! If they go down that path, nothing could stop them from switching off the internet one day and forcing their own people to rely on whatever service/platform is available within their intranet ^{[it's a private network that they fully control, so users will be left with local platforms that mostly offer subpar services/products and there'll be little to no competition]}.

Yes I agree that it is not limited to gambling & porn, but why do you think that has happened in China and Iran and some other places? Suddenly the government woke up one day and decided let's do this? No, it is the other way around. The stupid people were distracted and careless for a long time, failing to protest and block measures at key moments of the timeline. Using examples of activities of recent history as demonstrations, they were more concerned binge watching the next shitty Netflix show than they were with protesting key measures at the time when it was possible. In effect this is the way these things go:

• 1. People misbehave in all ways, abusing all sorts of things that are available (such as the example in this thread, gambling on public networks like degenerate addicts). This is not only limited to criminal behavior, most people do this.
• 2. The government starts preparing the first round of restrictions or measures, which may come under some pretext whether self-induced terrorism attack, CSAM bullshit or other nonsense.
• 3. Instead of boycotting and rioting, people watch Netflix, spend another useless weekend with their useless family and whatever other nonsense they got on.
• 4. Fast forward some steps, time, and measures.
• 5. Now you have the Great Firewall, congratulations.

Who the fuck do you think is at fault here? In each place where there is such a thing, the population is extremely docile like sheep, brainwashed and out of control. The Chinese for example care more about getting good deals during shopping holidays than they care about the transgressions of their own government.  Place the blame where it is appropriate, the people -- especially the individual person. FYI, Gambling is out of control currently in most countries of the world and most people that are part of the problem refuse to admit that they have a problem.