The Hague (AFP) – The Dutch consumer watchdog Friday launched an investigation into Roblox to see if the popular gaming platform was doing enough to protect children amid reports they are exposed to violent and sexual imagery. The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) said its probe would examine “potential risks to underage users in the EU” and would likely last around one year.
“The platform regularly makes the news, for example, due to concerns about violent or sexually explicit games that minors are exposed to,” the ACM said in a statement. Other concerns include reports of ill-intentioned adults targeting children on the platform and the use of misleading techniques to encourage purchases. The ACM said it had also received reports of these allegations and “considers this sufficient reason to launch a formal investigation into possible violations of the rules by Roblox.”
Under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), platforms must take “appropriate and proportionate measures” to ensure a high level of safety and privacy for minors. The ACM said it could impose a “binding instruction, fine, or penalty” on Roblox if it concludes the rules have been broken. In 2024, the ACM slapped a 1.1-million-euro fine on Fortnite maker Epic Games, judging that vulnerable children were exploited and pressured into making purchases in the game’s Item Shop.
A Roblox spokesperson told AFP the platform was “strongly committed” to complying with the DSA rules and was looking forward to providing “further clarity” on its actions. “We have invested significantly in building robust systems that align with the DSA’s principles, including working to ensure the safety, security and privacy of minors,” the spokesperson said. Roblox pointed to recent measures taken on the platform, such as introducing age check requirements for all users wishing to chat with others.
© 2024 AFP
