List of websites blocked in the Philippines

Based on the order of the National Telecommunications Commission in January 2017, pornographic websites were blocked in accordance with Philippine laws such as Republic Act No. 9775 (Anti-Child Pornography Act) and Republic Act No. 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act).^[1][2]

The Philippine government, through the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), began intensifying regulatory action against international cryptocurrency exchanges in 2024. On March 26, 2024, the SEC formally announced its decision to block Binance for operating without a license, citing violations of financial services regulations and the country’s Anti-Money Laundering Laws.^[7] The following day, on March 27, 2024, the NTC ordered major telecommunications companies and internet service providers to restrict access to Binance’s website, though its mobile and desktop applications remained accessible.^[8]

On April 19, 2024, the SEC sent letters to both Google and Apple requesting the removal of the Binance app from their respective app stores in the Philippines, expressing concerns that its continued availability posed a risk to the funds of Filipino investors.^[9][10] By July 30, 2024, the SEC reaffirmed its stance, stating it remained optimistic that both Google and Apple would comply with its request.^[11][12]

On August 1, 2025, the SEC escalated its crackdown by issuing directives to block ten additional international platforms, such as Bybit, Bitget, KuCoin, OKX, Kraken, and MEXC, after finding that they were conducting operations in the Philippines without the required registration as Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs).^[13] These enforcement actions were grounded in SEC Memorandum Circular Nos. 4 and 5 (2025), issued under the Virtual Asset Act, which mandated that VASPs must establish a physical office in the Philippines, meet minimum capitalization requirements, and comply with reporting obligations.^[13]

Although access to the websites of these exchanges was blocked by internet service providers starting in August 2025, most of their mobile and desktop applications continued to function, illustrating the difficulties regulators faced in fully implementing the restrictions. As of September 2025, the SEC has also formally requested that these cryptocurrency exchange applications, including Binance, be removed from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store in the Philippines; while the request is still under consideration by the platforms, the apps remain currently available for download.^[14]

Websites related to online gambling were blocked in accordance with the directives of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and Republic Act No. 9287 (An Act Increasing the Penalties for Illegal Numbers Games), as well as regulations against e-Sabong.

Websites of alternative media outlets and progressive groups were blocked pursuant to the order of the National Security Council in 2022, based on allegations that these were linked to terrorism or communism. Most of these groups have requested due process.^[24][25][26]