Australia's government urges Roblox to address "untenable" concerns regarding child safety
February 11 Update: Roblox has addressed remarks from the Australian government, emphasizing its collaboration with Australian law enforcement to aid their probes. The platform highlighted it has "filters intended to prevent the sharing of personal information."
The complete statement from Roblox reads:
"Roblox implements extensive safety measures and procedures surpassing those of many platforms, featuring advanced safeguards to oversee harmful interactions. We have filters to obstruct personal information sharing; our chat tools preclude image or video exchanges between users, and age verification is mandatory to access chat functions. These checks also restrict communication by default between users of differing ages. We diligently collaborate with Australian law enforcement to assist their investigatory efforts. Although no system is infallible, our enduring commitment to safety remains, continuously enhancing protections to ensure user security."
February 9, 2026: Australia's communication minister has asked Roblox to address apprehensions regarding children's safety on the platform. According to reports from The Guardian, Minister Anika Wells and eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant dispatched letters to Roblox addressing reports of alleged child grooming and exposure to dangerous content.
Unlike social platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat, which are off-limits for Australian minors under 16, gaming platforms like Roblox are still accessible.
Wells expressed concerns over reports of children encountering graphic and inappropriate content through the platform, including "sexually explicit and suicidal material."
"There are continuing, troubling reports and concerns that children are being targeted and groomed by predators who prey on their innate curiosity and innocence," Wells stated in her letter, highlighting deep concerns among Australian parents and guardians.
Inman Grant acknowledged the communication from the Minister for Communications and the government's backing in tackling this critical issue, emphasizing their dedication to employing all accessible measures to safeguard Australian children online.
The Guardian reported "a week of virtual sexual harassment and violence" in a covert study conducted in November, where a reporter, posing as an eight-year-old girl, endured a series of virtual attacks, including a sexualized avatar while parental controls were active.
The Guardian notes that Roblox has not yet replied to Wells' correspondence. Meanwhile, Wells has sought insights from Inman Grant’s office on immediate measures, such as a potential reassessment of Roblox’s "PG" rating or amendments to the government's Online Safety Act.
Roblox has been reinforcing its platform's safety protocols over the past year. Recent initiatives include introducing a "sensitive issues" content marker, and in November 2024, abilities such as blocking messaging access for users under 13 were rolled out. Last month, the platform further implemented global age verification requirements for anyone wishing to use chat features, tightening communication restrictions between minors and adults.