Australia has issued a strong warning to gaming platform Roblox amid growing fears over child grooming and online exploitation, with the country’s Communications Minister demanding urgent answers from the company.
On Tuesday, Communications Minister Anika Wells confirmed she had formally written to Roblox executives, calling for an immediate meeting to address serious concerns about how the platform protects children. Roblox attracts around 100 million daily users worldwide, and children under the age of 13 made up nearly 40 percent of its users in 2024, according to the company itself.
Despite its popularity, Roblox has faced repeated criticism for failing to adequately shield young users from harmful content. Allegations have included exposure to graphic violence, sexual material, and grooming behavior. A 2024 investigation by Hindenburg Research went as far as labeling the platform an unsafe digital environment for children, raising global alarm.
Speaking on Australia’s national broadcaster ABC, Wells expressed deep concern over reports that children as young as four or five were encountering disturbing and violent material on the platform. She said such content was unacceptable and called on Roblox to clearly explain what concrete steps it will take to protect young users.
The minister also revealed she had asked Australia’s internet watchdog, the eSafety Commissioner, to consider urgent regulatory action against the company if improvements are not made swiftly.
Roblox, which is headquartered in California, responded by saying it welcomed the opportunity to engage with the Australian government. In a statement to AFP, the company said it would outline the measures it already has in place to keep users safe. A spokesperson stressed that Roblox maintains strong safety policies and protective systems, claiming these go beyond those used by many other platforms.
Last year, Roblox announced plans to introduce compulsory facial recognition or ID verification for users who want to access chat features, a move aimed at reducing anonymous abuse and grooming.
Notably, Roblox was exempted from Australia’s recent ban on under-16s joining major social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, which came into effect on December 10. Other exempted platforms included Discord, WhatsApp, and Lego Play.
Globally, scrutiny of Roblox continues to intensify. The platform has already been banned in countries such as Qatar, Iraq, and Turkey over child safety concerns. In the United States, the states of Texas and Louisiana have filed lawsuits against the company, citing similar issues. — AFP
