Roblox commits to privacy overhaul after eSafety discovers adults can contact children via gaming platform
Guardian AU
•Wed, 19 Aug 2026 15:00:17 GMT
📰 What Happened
Australia's eSafety commissioner found that adults could still see child accounts on Roblox and send connection requests without parental consent, and that children's profiles, account names and interests were visible to anyone. Roblox responded by committing to a privacy overhaul, providing a legal agreement to the regulator after testing revealed children and adults could also interact on forums outside game environments.
🔍 The Backstory
The action follows earlier Roblox changes in December that made under-16 accounts private by default, after reports of children being groomed for abuse and extremism and exposed to inappropriate content.
🎯 Why It Matters
The case shows regulators pressuring a global gaming platform to prioritise child safety, and could set precedent for how online platforms are held accountable for underage users.
Australia's eSafety commissioner found that adults could still see child accounts on Roblox and send connection requests without parental consent, and that children's profiles, account names and interests were visible to anyone. Roblox responded by committing to a privacy overhaul, providing a legal agreement to the regulator after testing revealed children and adults could also interact on forums outside game environments.
The action follows earlier Roblox changes in December that made under-16 accounts private by default, after reports of children being groomed for abuse and extremism and exposed to inappropriate content.
The case shows regulators pressuring a global gaming platform to prioritise child safety, and could set precedent for how online platforms are held accountable for underage users.