LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — State Attorney General Aaron Ford announced Wednesday that Nevada has reached a settlement with online gaming platform Roblox in a historic move to protect children online.
"We live in a world where constantly changing technologies emerge every single day," Ford said. "Children today don't remember a world without the internet—a world without almost continuous connection with their peers and friends. These platforms and this technology are not going anywhere, but that doesn't mean we don't take the necessary steps to protect our children."
Watch the full announcement here:
Roblox has around 151.5 million daily active users and is used by nearly half of the entire U.S. population of children under 16 years old, Ford said.
"This settlement will create a safer environment for our children online, and I hope it will serve as a bellwether for how online interactive platforms allow our state's youth to use their products," Ford said.
Key Settlement Provisions
Age Verification and Content Control
- All users must undergo age verification to ensure children only have access to age-appropriate content on the Roblox platform using age estimation technology and government-issued ID for age assurance
- The platform will use behavior monitoring to identify users who may have been aged incorrectly
Enhanced Parental Controls
- Parents will have expanded control over their children's use of the platform, allowing them to decide who their children are talking to and which games they are playing
- Adult users and users under 16 cannot chat unless they are trusted friends on the platform, which could require parental consent depending on account settings. This ensures that the child knows the person outside of the platform
- This system allows children to talk to their friends while being protected from child predators
Communication Safety
- No communications involving minors will be encrypted
- Notifications will be restricted during sleep hours
Financial Commitments
- Roblox will spend $1 million over the next two years on an awareness campaign to educate minor users and adults on online safety
- $1.5 million will fund a law enforcement liaison position that will offer workshops and training for law enforcement
- $10 million will go to the state over the next three years for preventive programs to help children participate in non-digital programs
"These changes and contributions will make real differences for the safety and well-being of our children," Ford said. "I hope this signals to those companies we are facing in the courts right now that we are serious about protecting our youth."