Australian eSafety has issued legally enforceable transparency notices to Roblox, Minecraft, Epic Games’ Fortnite, and Valve’s Steam, demanding detailed information on child-safety measures, including grooming prevention and radicalisation safeguards.

The regulator notes that a large share of Australian children use online gaming services, underscoring the need for robust safeguards across platforms.

Valve’s Steam is specifically asked to explain how it handles extremism content and overall safety measures.

The package also flags broader privacy concerns around surrendering personal data, including photo ID, to third-party verification services in pursuit of child protection.

The action fits into a wider pattern of safeguarding minors online and escalating legal and regulatory scrutiny across jurisdictions.

The regulator’s investigation and potential penalties emphasize platform accountability for grooming, radicalisation, and other online harms.

Platforms’ responses are expected to reveal current policies and practical controls for content moderation, user safety features, and regulator collaboration.

The notices request detailed explanations on how each platform detects, prevents, and responds to extremist and terrorist content, grooming of minors, and cyberbullying.

Specifically, regulators want descriptions of detection, prevention, and response strategies for these harms across all four platforms.

The inquiry also asks how platforms address ongoing grooming and cyberbullying, including measures to counter extremist content.

There are reported grooming concerns across the platforms, including extremist or violent content exposure in some games.

Microsoft says it is reviewing the notices and is committed to adapting its child-safety approach amid regulatory changes; Roblox did not immediately comment.