Australia demands Roblox, Minecraft detail child safety measures

Australia has intensified scrutiny of major online gaming platforms, demanding greater transparency on how they protect children from online harms, including grooming and radicalisation.

The country’s eSafety regulator has issued legally enforceable notices to companies behind popular games such as Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, and Steam. 

The notices require these platforms to detail their safety systems, moderation practices, staffing, and compliance with cybersecurity standards.

Under the directive, companies have around 30 days to respond. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to A$825,000 per day, according to the regulator.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant warned that online gaming environments are increasingly being used by offenders as entry points to contact minors. 

She noted that predators often initiate conversations within games before moving children to private or encrypted messaging platforms, where monitoring becomes more difficult.

Grant emphasized that gaming platforms now serve as major social spaces for young users, with nine in 10 Australians aged between 8 and 17 participating in online gaming. 

This widespread use, she said, makes them attractive targets for bad actors seeking to exploit or influence minors.

“Predatory adults know this and target children through grooming or by embedding extremist narratives within gameplay,” she said, highlighting risks that extend beyond gaming into broader online harm.

Microsoft, which owns Minecraft, said it is reviewing the notice and reaffirmed its commitment to child safety. Meanwhile, Roblox has not publicly responded.

The move comes as regulators worldwide increase pressure on tech and gaming companies to strengthen safeguards for young users in increasingly interactive digital spaces.