Dutch regulator investigating Roblox for not sufficiently protecting children
This story was updated with a response form Roblox.
The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has launched an investigation into Roblox. The regulator has received reports that the gaming platform is not taking sufficient measures to protect the children it is aimed at. The ACM will investigate possible risks for children in the EU who use the platform, the regulator reported on Friday.
Roblox is an online gaming platform that is particularly popular among children and counts tens of millions of daily users worldwide. The platform is regularly in the news, among other things, because of concerns that it is a recruitment ground for the sadistic Com movement and its related groups, which expose children to violent and explicit content and coerce them to harm themselves or others.
There are also concerns about child sex abusers using the platform to groom children. In addition, there are reports of Roblox using dark patterns to stimulate kids into making more purchases.
“ACM, too, has received reports about these issues, and, over the past few months, has requested information from the platform as part of a preliminary investigation,” the Dutch regulator said. “Having assessed this information, ACM sees sufficient reason to launch an official investigation into Roblox for possible violation of the rules.”
The investigation will look into whether Roblox is adhering to the Digital Services Act (DSA), which stipulates that platforms must take “appropriate and proportionate measures to ensure a high level of privacy, safety, and security of minors.”
ACM enforces compliance with the DSA in the Netherlands. “As one of its key priorities is the protection of minors against online abuse and deception, it will now investigate whether Roblox has done so,” ACM said.
In response to the investigation, a Roblox spokesperson stressed that they introduced age requirements for anyone wanting to chat with other users on the platform. The company noted its investments to comply with the European Union's Digital Services Act, "including working to ensure the safety, security and privacy of minors."
The regulator expects the investigation to take approximately 12 months. A complicating factor is that, unlike with many other ACM investigations, the possible harm caused here is not exclusively financial in nature.
If the ACM finds that Roblox is not complying with the rules, it will take enforcement action in the form of a fine or binding instruction, for example. The regulator will not comment on the case during the investigation.
“Roblox has been in ongoing dialogue with the ACM for many months. We look forward to providing the ACM with further clarity on the many policies and safeguards we have in place to protect minors, including various safety enhancements that we believe set an industry benchmark for communication safety,” the company said in an email.
