Australia Demands Roblox, Fortnite Prove Child Safety Compliance
The notices, detailed in an eSafety Commission statement released Wednesday, compel the named companies to provide detailed accounts of how they identify, prevent, and address threats such as child grooming, cyberbullying, online hate speech, and radicalization. Platforms must also demonstrate whether their existing systems align with Australia's Basic Online Safety Expectations.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant underscored the urgency of the action, warning that gaming platforms frequently serve as the first point of contact between offenders and young victims, who are subsequently lured onto private messaging channels where oversight is minimal.
"Gaming platforms are amongst the online spaces most heavily used by Australian children," Inman Grant said, pointing to data showing approximately nine in 10 children between the ages of 8 and 17 actively engage in online gaming.
She cautioned that bad actors deliberately seek out children in these spaces, while violent propaganda and extremist material can be woven directly into gameplay, heightening the risk of radicalization.
Non-compliance carries severe financial consequences. Under Australia's online safety legislation, platforms that fail to meet the notices face penalties of up to AUD $825,000 — roughly $544,500 — per day, with per-breach fines reaching as high as AUD $49.5 million, equivalent to approximately $32.67 million.
The move builds on Australia's position at the forefront of digital child protection. Last year, the country made global history by becoming the first nation to impose an outright ban on social media accounts for children under 16. That landmark decision has since prompted a wave of similar legislative efforts in other countries grappling with mounting evidence of social media's damaging effects on adolescent mental health, cognitive development, and academic performance.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
