Gaming platform safety regulation in Australia

The Australian eSafety Commission has released a report identifying significant safety gaps within major online gaming platforms, including Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, and Steam. The investigation followed notices issued in April requiring these platforms to demonstrate compliance with the government’s Basic Online Safety Expectations.

Commissioner Julie Inman Grant stated that while some platforms have made improvements, substantial work remains to detect and disrupt harms such as grooming and radicalization. While Roblox has introduced measures like private accounts by default and parental consent requirements following a court-enforced undertaking, concerns persist regarding age assurance methods that rely on user self-declaration.

Further findings from the Commissioner highlight failures by major gaming companies to protect children from sadistic online networks. These networks reportedly use platforms such as Steam and Fortnite to target and coerce minors into acts of self-mutilation and violence against family members or pets. Experts, including Professor Michael Salter from the University of New South Wales, warned that these extremist groups use digital spaces to facilitate sexual exploitation and abuse. The report specifically notes that a lack of adequate safeguards from developers like Valve and Epic Games risks exposing children to violent extremism and severe psychological harm.

This regulatory scrutiny occurs alongside broader Australian government reforms, including proposed social media bans for children under 16 and options to opt out of algorithmic feeds.