Online Safety
Ongoing coverage on Online Safety.
Latest coverage
Sony rolls out age verification for PlayStation users in the UK and Ireland
Sony is implementing age verification for PlayStation users in the UK and Ireland to comply with new local laws, including the UK's Online Safety Act. Account holders will need to verify their identity through methods like facial scans or ID submission to retain access to communication features such as messages and voice chat. Failure to verify by June 2026 will restrict access to these features and some third-party services, though users can still access the PlayStation Store and play games.
Sony begins rolling out age verification for PlayStation in UK and Ireland
Sony is implementing mandatory age verification for PlayStation users in the UK and Ireland starting June 2026 to comply with the UK's Online Safety Act. Failure to verify age may restrict access to communication features like chat, messaging, and content sharing. Microsoft uses a similar age verification service for Xbox.
Roblox settles Nevada state lawsuit for over $12 million, promising to make platform changes
Roblox has settled a lawsuit with the state of Nevada for over $12 million concerning alleged child safety issues on its platform. The agreement includes $10 million for non-digital programs for children, $1 million for an online safety awareness campaign, and $1.5 million for a law enforcement liaison. Roblox will also implement age verification features and enhanced parental controls.
Roblox agrees to a $12 million settlement with Nevada
Roblox has reached a $12 million settlement with Nevada to avoid a trial concerning allegations of facilitating child exploitation. The agreement includes $10 million for children's support programs and $2.5 million for online safety initiatives. Roblox will also implement enhanced safety protocols, including age verification and stricter messaging rules for minors.
Roblox's age verification checks are "unpopular," but chief safety officer Matt Kaufman says they're worth the cost
Roblox is implementing unpopular age verification checks and new publishing requirements, which Chief Safety Officer Matt Kaufman states are necessary to comply with internet safety laws and maintain access to global markets. These changes, alongside the introduction of Roblox Plus, have frustrated developers, but Kaufman emphasizes the need to balance creator freedom with protecting younger users.
Roblox to pay over $12m to state of Nevada in child safety settlement
Roblox has agreed to a settlement with the state of Nevada, paying over $12 million for child safety initiatives and an online safety campaign. The company will implement enhanced age verification, monitor account activity, and restrict nighttime notifications for minors nationwide. This agreement comes amidst ongoing lawsuits and concerns regarding child safety on the platform. Separately, Jagex announced plans to expand RuneScape: Dragonwilds into the Asia-Pacific region with localized versions.
Roblox Dev Agrees To Pay $12 Million To "Create A Safer Environment" For Children Online
Roblox Corp. has agreed to pay over $12 million to the state of Nevada to enhance child online safety measures. This settlement, which includes funding for organizations like the Boys & Girls Club and an online safety awareness campaign, aims to create a safer digital environment for children. The agreement comes as other states have filed lawsuits against Roblox for insufficient child safeguarding.
Roblox launches new age-based accounts and expanded parental controls "to build age-appropriate experiences for all"
Roblox is introducing new age-based account tiers for minors, including Roblox Kids (ages 5-8) and Roblox Select (ages 9-15), along with expanded parental controls. These features aim to create age-appropriate experiences by aligning content access, communication settings, and safety measures with user age. The platform is also implementing an ongoing game selection process for users under 16 and enhancing parental tools for managing content ratings, screen time, and spending.
Evening Metaverse
A father is experiencing a support nightmare after his teenage son lied about his age on Discord. This situation highlights potential issues with online safety and age verification on social platforms.
The EU is investigating Snapchat over possible child protection breaches
The European Union has launched a formal investigation into Snapchat for potential breaches of the Digital Services Act concerning child protection. Regulators are examining whether the platform adequately safeguards minors from grooming, illegal drug access, and age-inappropriate content, questioning the effectiveness of its age verification system. The EU is also investigating reporting mechanisms for illegal content and accounts, and how user data is recommended.
EU says Pornhub and others failed to stop minors accessing adult content
The European Commission has accused Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos of failing to adequately prevent minors from accessing adult content, violating the Digital Services Act. The platforms' current age verification methods, such as single-click declarations and content warnings, are deemed ineffective. The EC is demanding robust, privacy-preserving age verification systems and has warned of potential fines up to six percent of global annual turnover if non-compliance is confirmed.
Danger Zone
Roblox Corporation has advised parents to monitor children's activity on the platform around the clock. This recommendation comes amid ongoing discussions about online safety for young users on the popular gaming service.
Marathon sells 1.2 million copies across Steam, PS5, and Xbox | News-in-brief
The Nordic Game conference, taking place May 26-29, has announced its speaker lineup, featuring developers from Wishfully, Those Eyes, and Windup Games discussing game design and development. The event will also introduce an inaugural AI Track, with talks from companies like Infinity Fiction and Nunu AI focusing on the role of artificial intelligence in game development, storytelling, and QA. The conference expects over 3,000 attendees in 2026 and will showcase over 100 indie games.
Apple introduces age verification for iCloud accounts in the UK
Apple has implemented an age verification system for iCloud accounts in the UK, requiring users to prove they are 18 or older to access certain services. Users can verify their age by linking a credit card or scanning an ID. The UK's communications regulator, Ofcom, praised the move, noting it goes beyond the requirements of the Online Safety Act.
Xbox vs PlayStation vs Nintendo: Which Platform Is Actually Safer?
This analysis compares the online safety infrastructure and transparency of Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo platforms. Xbox is highlighted for its comprehensive, documented safety measures and detailed transparency reports, while PlayStation shows progress with its first report but lacks data depth. Nintendo employs a restrictive-by-default model, prioritizing child safety but offering no public data, creating an accountability gap.
Senator Blackburn introduces the first draft of a federal AI bill
Senator Marsha Blackburn has introduced the first draft of a federal bill aimed at regulating artificial intelligence, focusing on protecting children, creators, and communities. The draft proposes a duty of care for AI developers, addresses copyright concerns regarding AI training data, and includes provisions for online safety for minors and transparency for AI-generated content.
The Daily Grind: Would you show or upload ID to play an MMO?
The article discusses the growing trend of age verification requirements for online platforms, including MMOs, and its implications for user privacy. It references Blizzard Entertainment's past 'Real ID' controversy and compares it to current systems in China, questioning players on their willingness to share personal identification for game access.
From Modding to Platforms: The New Era of Player-Created Games - Walkthrough, Tips, Review
The landscape of gaming has evolved from player modifications to full-fledged platforms where users create and share entire game experiences. This shift, exemplified by platforms like Roblox, highlights the growing importance of user-generated content in game development and community building. However, this growth also brings challenges related to online safety and platform accountability.
Back When AOL WAS the Internet – The TouchArcade Show #606 – TouchArcade
In Episode 606 of The TouchArcade Show, the hosts discuss their weekend plans, Patreon updates, and the latest version of iOS 18. They also delve into a discussion about whether the internet is more dangerous for children now compared to the 1990s and touch upon the challenges of physical versus digital ownership in gaming, specifically referencing Dungeons & Dragons.
Roblox introduces real-time AI-powered chat rephraser for inappropriate language
Roblox has implemented a new AI-powered feature that rephrases inappropriate language in real-time, replacing censored text with more suitable alternatives instead of hash signs. This system, initially targeting profanity, aims to improve chat civility and user experience, with penalties still in place for policy violations. The feature is available for age-verified users in similar age groups across all supported languages.