Australia Seeks Meeting with Roblox Over Child Safety Concerns
- tech360.tv
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The Australian government has called for a meeting with gaming platform Roblox following reports of child grooming and exposure to graphic content. A regulator stated it would test whether the US-listed firm has met child-safety commitments.
Communications Minister Anika Wells wrote to Roblox, expressing "grave concern" regarding reports of children being approached by predators and exposed to harmful material. Wells described the reports as "horrendous," adding that "Australian parents and children expect more from Roblox."
These reports detail children's exposure to graphic content and predators actively using the platform for grooming. Wells' statement indicates a cooling relationship between Australia and the popular gaming platform.
Roblox rolled out an age-assurance requirement in 2025 to limit online chats to narrow age windows and prevent child grooming. A Roblox spokesperson stated the company has robust safety policies and processes designed to protect users, surpassing many other platforms.
The spokesperson confirmed Roblox would meet Wells to discuss its community safety measures. The company employs filters to block personal information sharing, prevents user-to-user image or video sharing in chat, and requires age checks for chat access.
These checks also limit children and teenagers to chatting by default only with others of a similar age. Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant welcomed Roblox's measure.
Inman Grant had recommended against including the company in a social media ban that began in December. She stated that Roblox's age-based safety features would be tested, adding that fines of up to A$49.5 million ($35 million) could be sought if the platform fails to comply with Australia's online child protection laws.
Inman Grant concluded, "We remain highly concerned by ongoing reports regarding the exploitation of children on the Roblox service, and exposure to harmful material."
The Australian government has called a meeting with Roblox over child grooming and graphic content reports.
Communications Minister Anika Wells expressed "grave concern" about children's exposure to harmful material and predators on the platform.
Roblox stated it has robust safety policies, including filters and age checks, and agreed to meet with Wells.
Source: REUTERS