ACM launches investigation into Roblox in connection with risks that minors are facing

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) launches an investigation into online game platform Roblox in connection with possible risks that minors in the EU face on the platform. In its investigation, ACM will assess whether the game platform takes sufficient measures to protect minors on its service.

Roblox is an online game platform that is particularly popular among children, and it has tens of millions of users every day worldwide. The platform is regularly in the news, for example, because of concerns over minors being exposed to violent or explicit content in experiences, reports about bad actors that seek to contact minors through the platform, as well as the use of misleading techniques (dark patterns) in order to stimulate users to make purchases. ACM, too, has received reports about these issues, and, over the past few months, has requested information from the platform as part of a preliminary investigation. Having assessed this information, ACM sees sufficient reason to launch an official investigation into Roblox for possible violation of the rules.

The investigation focuses on the platform’s measures regarding the protection of minors. According to the Digital Services Act (DSA), platforms must put in place appropriate and proportionate measures to ensure a high level of privacy, safety, and security of minors. ACM, which enforces compliance with the DSA in the Netherlands, and as one of its key priorities is the protection of minors against online abuse and deception, will now investigate whether Roblox has done so.

Procedure

At this point, it is not yet known how long the process will last. This will depend in part on the course of the investigation. Considering its nature and scope, the investigation is expected to last approximately 12 months. Another factor in that context is that the possible harm, unlike in many other investigations, is not exclusively financial in nature. ACM may come to the conclusion that the platform complies with the rules. If the investigation reveals that this is not the case, ACM will take enforcement action, for example in the form of a binding instruction, fine, or order subject to periodic payments. During the investigation, ACM does not comment on the case.

About the DSA

The DSA is a European law that came into effect in early 2024, and that seeks to ensure a trustworthy, transparent, and safe online environment. It mandates online platforms that are accessible to minors to put in place measures to protect minors against illegal or harmful content on their service. In addition, this law stipulates how online platforms must handle reports about illegal content. For example, it must be easy to file a report, and platforms must respond quickly and explain properly what they will do with the reports.

ACM conducts oversight over the platforms whose headquarters or legal representatives are established in the Netherlands, including Roblox. The largest online platforms and search engines (so-called VLOPs and VLOSEs) fall under the oversight of the European Commission. Dutch users can report violations to ACM, including when these platforms are not located in the Netherlands. These reports are subsequently forwarded by ACM, as coordinator, to other national regulators in member states or to the European Commission.