The federal government has put online gaming platform Roblox on notice following reports that children are being approached and groomed by predators on the service.
Communications Minister Anika Wells said she has sought an urgent meeting with Roblox executives, raising concerns about “graphic and gratuitous user-generated content,” including sexually explicit and suicidal material.
“[I] have seen the reports that there are paedophiles on this platform going after our kids, and that those kids are as young as four or five. They need to account for that,” she told reporters on Feb. 10.
What Is Roblox?
Roblox is an online gaming and social platform where users create and play games made by other players.
It includes virtual worlds, hangout spaces, and interactive experiences, with users able to communicate through text and voice chat.
Because it is widely used by children and teenagers, the platform has faced repeated scrutiny over safety controls, content moderation, and the risk of exploitation.
Communications Minister Demands An Explanation
Minister Wells said she was pursuing three immediate actions.
“Firstly, I have written to Roblox and asked them to come and see me for a meeting and account for themselves, explain to me what they are doing to keep our kids safe online,” she said, adding the company had already replied.
“Secondly, I’ve asked the eSafety Commissioner to consider and give me some advice about more urgent measures,” she said.
Wells also said the government was developing a “digital duty of care” model that would shift responsibility onto tech platforms to protect children.
“So whilst we work on that, I’ve asked the eSafety Commissioner to give me advice about if there are any more urgent measures, any more levers that I can pull in the interim,” she said.
Thirdly, Roblox’s classification is currently outdated with the platform rated “PG” in 2018.
“I think we can all agree a lot’s happened since 2018 and given what we now know about what’s happening on this platform, I want them to reclassify it,” she said.
eSafety Moves to Test Roblox Commitments
Wells’ intervention comes as eSafety last week notified Roblox it intends to directly test whether the platform has delivered nine safety commitments made to Australia’s online safety regulator last year.
Those commitments included making under-16 accounts private by default, restricting adult contact with minors, and switching off chat features until users complete age checks.
Roblox has told eSafety it delivered those measures by the end of 2025.
But eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said she may take further action under the Online Safety Act.
“We remain highly concerned by ongoing reports regarding the exploitation of children on the Roblox service, and exposure to harmful material,” she said.
New online safety codes targeting age-restricted material, including pornography, high-impact violence and self-harm, come into force on March 9 and apply to Roblox.
Legal and Global Pressure Builds
Australia is not the only jurisdiction moving against the game.
Turkey banned the platform in 2024 after declaring it unsafe for children. Oman, Qatar and China later imposed restrictions or bans.
In the United States, Texas has sued Roblox, accusing it of exposing children to predators and misleading families about the platform’s safety.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the company would face the “full force of the law” if it continued to allow harm.
Roblox has previously defended its safety approach, saying it has spent nearly 20 years building the platform and investing heavily in content moderation.
“Every day, tens of millions of people of all ages have a safe and positive experience on Roblox,” the company said.
“We spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year to keep our platform safe.”
The Epoch Times has approached Roblox for comment.
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