EU Regulatory Crackdown: Netherlands Launches Investigation into Roblox Over Minor Safety Concerns

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) announced on Friday (Jan 30) that it has launched a formal investigation into the popular online gaming platform Roblox, focusing on potential risks to minors within the European Union (EU).

Evaluating Child Protection Measures

The ACM stated in its official press release that the probe will assess whether the platform has implemented sufficient safeguards to protect children and young users. The regulator noted there are "reasonable grounds" to investigate potential violations of digital safety regulations.

As part of the investigation, the ACM will scrutinize Roblox’s compliance with the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). Under this law, major digital platforms are strictly required to:

• Protect Privacy: Ensure that data collection practices for minors are minimized and secured.

• Safety First: Proactively mitigate risks related to inappropriate content or predatory behavior.

• Transparency: Clearly explain how their algorithms and moderation systems function to protect young audiences.

A Year-Long Investigation

Due to the complexity and global scale of the case, the ACM expects the investigation to take approximately 12 months to reach a final conclusion.

Based in San Mateo, California, Roblox Corporation operates one of the world's largest user-generated gaming ecosystems, making its compliance with European law a high-stakes issue for the company.

• The European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA) is considered one of the "strictest laws in the world." If Roblox is found guilty, the company could face fines of up to 6% of its global annual turnover, a massive sum, and may be forced to completely change its business model in Europe.

• While the statement emphasizes security, European regulators generally worry about "dark patterns" or game designs that unknowingly encourage children to spend money (Robux), which are often considered alongside child safety.

• Roblox has previously been criticized for "child labor exploitation" because its platform allows children to create games for revenue while the company takes a high share of the profits. This ACM investigation may therefore also cover fairness in business practices with young developers.

• Roblox is not the only one under investigation; TikTok and Instagram have also been investigated under the DSA in a similar manner. This move by the Netherlands is part of the "Big Tech Accountability" movement, aiming to seriously regulate the digital world to make it safer for children.

 

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