• Roblox has temporarily disabled voice and text chats in Saudi Arabia and UAE to enhance child safety.
• The restrictions come amid rising scrutiny over child exploitation on the platform.
• Saudi Arabia and UAE regulators are collaborating with Roblox to improve content moderation and oversight.
• Roblox has encountered increased safety concerns globally, prompting similar actions in other regions.
• Legal issues have also emerged in the US regarding Roblox's alleged facilitation of child exploitation.

Roblox has temporarily blocked voice and text chat features in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, responding to increasing concerns about child safety within its platform. This move affects millions of young gamers and follows discussions with regulatory authorities such as the General Authority for Media Regulation in Saudi Arabia and the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority in the UAE. Both nations expressed that the decision aims to enhance digital safety by reducing risks of cyberbullying and inappropriate content exposure, according to Indiatimes and AA.

Saudi officials stated the temporary suspension of chat functions is part of a broader move to develop regulatory tools aimed at user protection and a safer gaming environment. Hattan Tawaili, head of the commission’s Electronic Games Department, confirmed that Roblox is cooperating with local authorities and committed to improving its Arabic-language communication and content moderation capabilities, as per TRT Global and AA.

In the UAE, similar adjustments have been announced by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, which focuses on enhancing digital safety features for users, particularly children. This includes the temporary disabling of certain communication features alongside improved parental control tools and Arabic-language content moderation, emphasizing a precautionary approach to safeguard younger users, according to Indiatimes and AA.

This regulatory action is not isolated, as multiple Gulf countries are imposing their restrictions on Roblox. For instance, Kuwait has attempted to block the platform over concerns surrounding child safety, following reports of harmful practices and online exploitation. Reports indicate that Qatar and Oman have similarly banned or restricted access to the game due to safety concerns, highlighting a regional trend towards tightening regulations on gaming platforms, as detailed in TRT Global and AA.

Beyond the Middle East, Roblox has faced increasing scrutiny in the United States as well, where a lawsuit has been filed against the company for allegedly facilitating child exploitation. This legal action adds to growing pressure on Roblox to enhance safety measures across its platform. In 2023 alone, reports indicated over 13,000 cases of child exploitation were recorded in the U.S., which underscores the urgency of current regional and global regulatory efforts directed at ensuring child safety on digital platforms, according to TRT Global and AA.