Victoria
Roblox faces external audits over child safety in Australia
The eSafety Commissioner will be able to take the gaming platform to court if it fails to protect Australian children.
Online gaming platform Roblox will undergo external audits to prove it is safe for Australian children under a new regulatory push, according to a wire report. The popular digital playground, which is used by millions of children globally, is facing increased scrutiny over its safety measures and content moderation.
Under the new arrangement, Australia's eSafety Commissioner will hold powers to take the gaming platform to court if it finds that Roblox is not honouring its commitments to keep Australian children safe. The audits represent a significant step in holding international technology and gaming giants accountable under Australian digital safety laws.
The specific details of the commitments made by Roblox, as well as the timeline for the upcoming external audits, have not been fully detailed in the initial reports. However, the mechanism ensures that the eSafety Commissioner has legal recourse should the platform fail to meet the agreed standards.
Roblox has previously faced criticism from parents and child safety advocates regarding the exposure of young users to inappropriate content. The introduction of external audits is intended to provide an independent verification of the platform's safety protocols and technologies.
The eSafety Commissioner has been increasingly active in monitoring major online platforms, using local legislation to enforce compliance. This latest move signals a tightening of oversight for interactive entertainment platforms that host large numbers of underage users.
We will watch to see when the first external audit of Roblox is scheduled to commence and what specific safety metrics will be evaluated.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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