Australia's eSafety commissioner has been questioned in parliament over the potential dangers children face on the popular online platform Roblox, following a disturbing investigation by Guardian Australia.
Senate Estimates Hearing Raises Concerns
During a Senate estimates hearing, Independent senator David Pocock directly questioned the eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant. The line of inquiry was prompted by Guardian Australia's investigation into Roblox, which exposed the harmful and sexually explicit experiences some children encounter within the game's virtual worlds.
Senator Pocock highlighted a critical regulatory gap, noting that Roblox is not subject to the proposed under-16s social media ban. He pressed the commissioner to clarify whether Roblox should be classified purely as a gaming platform or recognised as a service that actively enables social interactions between users, which would place it in a different category for potential regulation.
Commissioner's Response and Platform Changes
In her response, Commissioner Inman Grant detailed the changes that Roblox has announced in light of growing safety concerns. She explained that the platform plans to implement age assurance technology designed to separate different age groups and prevent them from interacting with each other within the game.
This move is seen as a direct attempt to address the kinds of risks uncovered by the Guardian's investigation. The report included a first-person account titled 'My chilling week on Roblox: sexually assaulted and shat on as a child avatar', which vividly illustrated the platform's darker side where user-generated content can lead to abusive scenarios.
Broader Implications for Online Safety
The exchange underscores the ongoing challenge regulators face in keeping pace with rapidly evolving digital environments. Platforms like Roblox, which blend gaming, social networking, and content creation, exist in a grey area between entertainment and social media, complicating enforcement of age-based restrictions.
The hearing has intensified the debate around effective age verification and the scope of the proposed social media ban. It raises questions about whether legislation should focus on the specific functionalities of a platform rather than its primary label. The outcome of this regulatory scrutiny could set a precedent for how other hybrid online spaces are governed to protect young users from harm.
