Australia Says Roblox Falls Short on Child Predator Protections
Australia’s eSafety criticized Roblox for insufficient child safety under the Online Safety Act.
Why it matters: Legal and compliance teams must navigate heightened regulatory scrutiny as Australia enforces child protection on gaming platforms. Consumer trust and corporate accountability are at stake amid growing online safety demands.
- eSafety found Roblox allows adults to contact children under 16 without parental consent.
- In April 2026, eSafety issued transparency notices to Roblox and others, demanding child safety details.
- Non-compliance with notices risks penalties up to A$825,000 per day.
- Australia's Online Safety Act 2021 empowers eSafety to enforce these protections legally.
Australia's eSafety Commissioner publicly criticized Roblox for failing to comply with the Online Safety Act 2021, particularly in preventing contact between adults and children under 16.
Testing by eSafety revealed adults could view child accounts and send connection requests without parental consent on Roblox, raising concerns about grooming risks. Communications Minister Anika Wells highlighted these dangers, stating, "Even more disturbing are reports and concerns about children being approached and groomed by predators, who actively seek to exploit their curiosity and innocence."
In April 2026, the eSafety Commissioner issued legally enforceable transparency notices to major gaming platforms — including Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, and Steam — asking for details on their safety systems and measures to protect children from online harms. These measures align with the commissioner's authority granted by the Online Safety Act to protect Australians from severe online abuse.
Failure to comply with these notices can trigger penalties of up to A$825,000 per day, underscoring the seriousness of regulatory expectations for child safety in digital environments. While Roblox has committed to privacy overhauls after the findings, specifics on the steps they plan to take remain undisclosed.
Legal and compliance professionals in the tech sector should monitor these developments closely, as they signal a push for more robust child protection frameworks across interactive platforms.
By the numbers:
- A$825,000 per day — maximum penalty for non-compliance with eSafety notices