Dutch Watchdog Targets Roblox Over Child Safety Fears
The Dutch consumer watchdog has opened an investigation into the gaming platform Roblox over concerns that children using the service may not be sufficiently protected from harm.
The Autoriteit Consument en Markt (ACM – Authority for Consumers and Markets) announced that it will examine whether Roblox is taking adequate measures to safeguard young users. Roblox is widely used by children and teenagers and allows players to create and explore their own digital games and virtual worlds.
Although the platform is free and has around 111 million users worldwide, it has faced repeated criticism in recent years. Reports show that children have encountered games containing sexual and violent content, and criminals have used the platform to blackmail minors into sending money or engaging in sexual acts online.
The ACM said the investigation will focus on whether Roblox complies with the European Digital Services Act (DSA), which obliges online platforms to protect the privacy and safety of minors. In the Netherlands, the ACM is responsible for enforcing this law and has made the protection of children from online abuse and deception a key priority.
The probe could take up to a year to complete. If violations are found, Roblox could be fined or ordered to make mandatory changes to its platform. The company said it has been in contact with the ACM for several months and stressed that complying with European legislation is one of its highest priorities, adding that it has recently introduced age checks for users who want to access chat functions.