{
  "id": 11976842,
  "title": "Kids at risk of grooming unless companies crack down",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/kids-at-risk-of-grooming-unless-companies-crack-down",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-01T22:45:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Discovered",
    "slug": "discovered",
    "url": "https://examiner.com.au/story/9361290/kids-at-risk-of-grooming-unless-companies-crack-down"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The eSafety Commission in Australia has expressed concern over the inadequate measures taken by major gaming companies to safeguard children on their platforms. Commissioner Julie Inman Grant highlighted that the primary target demographic is children aged 8 to 13. These platforms include Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, and Steam. The watchdog found gaps in the behavior of these companies that could lead to immediate harm for children, such as exposure to predators, sexual extortionists, and violent extremist content. The commission has issued notices to these companies, requiring them to explain how they are meeting the government's Basic Online Safety Expectations. Some platforms, such as Roblox, have introduced additional safety mechanisms, like accessible reporting, preventing adults from contacting unknown children without parental consent, and making children's accounts private by default. However, significant gaps remain. Roblox has prioritized the safety of Australian users, including children, by investing in a large trust and safety team and adopting advanced detection technologies. The commissioner emphasized that Australian children have a right to play online without exposure to harmful material. The government is also introducing reforms to its online safety legislation, which includes age assurance requirements for all gaming platforms, ensuring companies find out the age of a player and not serve dangerous content to children.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}