Roblox has been told it must make changes after a regulator found its safeguards failed to stop adults from contacting children, and it will become the first platform to submit to independent audits under the Online Safety Act.
Key facts
- A regulator found Roblox's safeguards were too weak to stop adults contacting children.
- Roblox has been ordered to make changes as a result.
- Roblox is the first platform to submit to independent audits under the Online Safety Act.
Roblox has been ordered to make changes after a regulator concluded that its existing safeguards were not strong enough to prevent adults from contacting children on the platform, according to Ars Technica.
The finding centers on weaknesses in the protections meant to keep young users safe from unwanted contact by adults. According to Ars Technica, those safeguards failed to stop adults from reaching children, prompting the regulator to require the company to act.
As part of the response, Roblox will become the first platform to submit to independent audits under the Online Safety Act, according to Ars Technica. The move signals a more hands-on approach to verifying whether online platforms are meeting their child safety obligations.
Independent audits are designed to provide outside scrutiny of a platform’s safety systems, rather than relying solely on a company’s own assessments. By agreeing to this process, Roblox becomes a test case for how the Online Safety Act’s oversight mechanisms will work in practice.
Roblox is widely used by children and young people, which places its safety practices under particular focus from regulators. The regulator’s conclusion that its safeguards were insufficient underscores the challenge platforms face in preventing adults from making contact with minors.
Why it matters
Roblox is one of the most popular platforms among children, so gaps in its safeguards affect a large and vulnerable audience. As the first platform to face independent audits under the Online Safety Act, the case could set a precedent for how regulators enforce child safety requirements across the wider industry.
Frequently asked questions
What did the regulator find about Roblox?
According to Ars Technica, the regulator found that Roblox's safeguards were too weak to stop adults from contacting children on the platform.
What must Roblox do now?
Roblox has been ordered to make changes and will become the first platform to submit to independent audits under the Online Safety Act, according to Ars Technica.
Why is the independent audit significant?
It makes Roblox the first platform to submit to independent audits under the Online Safety Act, providing outside scrutiny of its safety systems, according to Ars Technica.