Steam, Minecraft, Roblox and Fortnite risk “becoming onramps to abuse, extremist violence, radicalisation or lifelong harm”, claim Australian government
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has issued transparency notices to the operators of four major gaming platforms—Steam (Valve), Fortnite (Epic Games), Minecraft (Microsoft), and Roblox (Roblox Corporation)—seeking information about their child safety measures. The Australian government expressed concern that without adequate action, these platforms risk “becoming onramps to abuse, extremist violence, radicalisation or lifelong harm.”
The transparency notices represent a formal request for the companies to disclose what steps they are currently taking to protect young users on their platforms. This regulatory action comes as part of broader scrutiny of online platforms and their responsibility to safeguard minors from potential harms.
The four platforms collectively host millions of young players, making them significant vectors for potential exposure to harmful content or interactions if proper safeguards are not in place. Each platform has varying levels of social features, user-generated content, and moderation systems.
The eSafety Commissioner’s approach signals Australia’s commitment to holding major gaming platforms accountable for child protection standards. The companies will now need to document and justify their existing safety protocols in response to the transparency notices, potentially leading to more robust enforcement of existing policies or implementation of new safety features.