Roblox faces child safety enforcement in Australia under Online Safety Act

Consensus Summary

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has secured a court-enforceable undertaking from Roblox to overhaul its child safety measures after repeated findings that adults could still contact children without parental consent. The regulator discovered that despite prior changes—such as making under-16 accounts private by default and disabling chat for younger users—adults remained able to view child profiles and send connection requests. In response, Roblox has agreed to implement stricter controls, including blocking adult contact with unknown children unless parents approve, and hiring an independent auditor to verify its age-estimation technology and other safety systems. The company now has three months to comply, with eSafety threatening legal action if it fails to meet the new requirements.

The latest scrutiny follows nearly two years of negotiations between Roblox and eSafety, with the platform first put on notice in February 2026 over child grooming risks. Earlier this year, Roblox introduced age-based account types for children aged 5–8 and 9–15, with chat functions disabled by default for those under 13. However, eSafety’s testing revealed persistent gaps, particularly in how adults could still interact with children outside of in-game chats. The regulator’s report in July also highlighted failures in age-verification processes, with over half of children reporting platforms had not confirmed their age. These issues underscore the challenges of enforcing Australia’s Online Safety Act, which came into effect in December 2025 after passing in December 2024.

Key figures in the dispute include eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, who emphasized that Roblox’s safety measures must be independently verified to ensure accountability. Inman Grant noted that about 1.7 million Australian children use Roblox, making the platform a prime target for predators. Roblox’s spokesperson acknowledged progress in the past year but stressed the company’s commitment to ongoing improvements. The Guardian reports that Roblox’s executives recognize the importance of verifiable safety measures for their long-term viability, while ABC highlights that this is the first time eSafety has required an external audit of a tech company’s safety systems.

While all three outlets agree on the core issue—Roblox’s failure to fully comply with child safety standards—they differ in emphasis. 7NEWS provides detailed timelines, including the April 2026 announcement of age-based accounts and the July report on age-verification failures, while ABC and Guardian focus more on the immediate enforcement action and the scope of eSafety’s testing. 7NEWS also highlights the broader context of Australia’s social media age restrictions, noting that Roblox was initially exempt but could face inclusion if its social features become dominant. The Guardian adds that Roblox’s December 2025 changes—such as disabling voice chat for 13–15-year-olds—were part of earlier efforts to address grooming and extremism risks.

The unresolved question is whether Roblox’s latest commitments will be sufficient to satisfy eSafety. The regulator has warned that legal action could follow if the company fails to comply within the three-month deadline. 7NEWS suggests the process may drag into 2027, given the slow pace of previous assessments, while ABC and Guardian focus on the immediate audit and enforcement steps. Roblox’s legal challenges, such as Meta’s ongoing US court case over child privacy laws, may also influence how quickly the company acts. For parents, the articles stress the need for vigilance, as platforms like Roblox continue to evolve their safety features while predators adapt their tactics.