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Roblox Implements Strict Age Verification in Indonesia to Comply with New Youth Protection Laws
Roblox, the popular online gaming platform with approximately 45 million users in Indonesia, announced Thursday it will require facial scans for children under 16 to verify their age, complying with new Indonesian regulations restricting minors’ access to digital platforms.
Nicky Jackson Colaco, Roblox’s vice president and global head of public policy, revealed these changes during a press conference in Jakarta, describing them as “among the strictest that the company has implemented anywhere in the world.”
The new measures include tailored, age-based accounts specifically designed for Indonesian users. Children aged 5 to 12 will be placed in “Roblox Kids” accounts with no chat features, while those aged 13 to 15 will use “Roblox Select” accounts with chat capabilities limited to parents or approved family and friends.
The implementation affects roughly 23 million accounts in Indonesia identified as belonging to users under 16. These accounts will automatically transition to the appropriate age-restricted version based on facial scanning technology.
“Any user in Indonesia who has not used that tool, who has no facial age estimated, will be automatically placed in a Roblox Kids account and will not have access to chat,” Jackson Colaco explained. She emphasized that the facial scan data would be immediately deleted after age estimation, stating firmly: “We don’t keep anything.”
Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid noted that approximately half of Roblox’s Indonesian user base consists of children. The platform’s unique status as the only gaming platform classified as “high-risk” by the Indonesian government has resulted in specific restrictions tailored to its interactive nature.
Beyond limiting communication features, Roblox will also categorize games by age appropriateness and implement screen time controls. “To address concerns about addiction, screen time limits are now in place. Parents can set specific times or hours for their children to play games,” Minister Hafid said.
These changes come as part of Indonesia’s broader regulatory push to protect minors online. The country began enforcing new government regulations in late March that prohibit children under 16 from accessing digital platforms potentially exposing them to addiction, pornography, online scams, and cyberbullying.
Seven other platforms classified as high-risk—YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X (formerly Twitter), and Bigo Live—have also committed to restricting children’s access to their services in compliance with the new regulations.
Indonesia’s approach represents one of the most comprehensive government efforts globally to regulate minors’ digital access. The country is further pressing these companies to report the number of suspended accounts as part of the enforcement process.
Digital safety experts have long expressed concerns about children’s exposure to inappropriate content and interactions on platforms like Roblox, which combines gaming with social features. While some advocacy groups applaud Indonesia’s proactive stance, others worry about implementation challenges, including the reliability of facial scanning technology and potential privacy implications.
The Indonesian digital market represents a significant and growing segment for global tech companies. With over 270 million people and a rapidly expanding digital economy, compliance with local regulations has become essential for companies seeking to maintain access to this important Southeast Asian market.
Roblox’s swift adaptation to these strict requirements demonstrates how global technology companies are increasingly willing to implement region-specific policies to maintain market access, even when those policies require significant platform modifications.
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16 Comments
Facial scanning technology for age verification is an interesting solution, though I wonder about the potential privacy implications. Curious to see how Roblox’s implementation in Indonesia fares and if it sparks wider adoption.
Roblox’s move to tailor its platform for different age groups in Indonesia, with features like limited chat for younger kids, seems like a smart way to balance user experience and safety concerns. Glad to see them taking this issue seriously.
Facial scans for age verification – that’s a novel approach. Curious to see how Roblox’s implementation of these new rules in Indonesia unfolds and whether it becomes more widely adopted.
Roblox’s efforts to comply with Indonesia’s youth protection regulations are quite robust. The age-based account structure and facial scanning seem like reasonable steps to balance user experience and safety.
It will be interesting to see if other major online platforms follow Roblox’s lead in implementing such strict age verification measures, especially in regions with tightening digital privacy laws.
Roblox’s implementation of strict age verification measures in Indonesia, including facial scans, is certainly a novel approach. It will be interesting to see if this becomes more common as platforms look to comply with evolving digital privacy laws.
The age-based account structure with limited features for younger users is a reasonable way to balance platform access and safety. Kudos to Roblox for taking proactive steps to meet the new Indonesian regulations.
Roblox’s implementation of these new rules in Indonesia is certainly among the most robust I’ve seen for a major gaming platform. Careful age-based account segmentation and facial scanning tech should help address concerns around youth safety.
Compliance with local laws is crucial, especially when it comes to protecting minors online. Kudos to Roblox for taking proactive steps to adapt their platform in Indonesia.
It’s good to see Roblox taking proactive steps to comply with Indonesia’s new laws around protecting minors online. The age-based account restrictions and facial scanning verification process sound like a comprehensive approach.
While age verification can be tricky, Roblox’s measures seem well-thought-out. Hopefully they’re effective in keeping younger users safe without overly disrupting the platform experience.
Tailoring the Roblox experience for different age groups in Indonesia, including limiting chat features for younger users, seems like a prudent approach given the new regulations. Curious to see how effective the facial scanning verification is.
Interesting to see Roblox taking such strict measures to comply with Indonesia’s new youth protection laws. Age verification using facial scans is a novel approach – curious to see how effective it will be in practice.
Strict age limits and tailored accounts for different age groups seem like a reasonable way to balance protecting minors while still allowing access to the platform.
While the new age verification measures in Indonesia may add some friction for Roblox users, they seem like a necessary step to meet the country’s updated youth protection regulations. Curious to see if this approach gets adopted more widely.
Facial scanning technology for age checks is an interesting solution, though I wonder about the privacy implications and potential for abuse. Hopefully Roblox has robust safeguards in place.