- Temporary suspension of chat features in Saudi Arabia and the UAE in response to growing child safety concerns.
- Roblox introduces over 100 safety initiatives in 2025, including age estimation, AI-powered monitoring, and Arabic-speaking moderators.
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Coordination with regulators highlights a wider regional trend toward stricter oversight of in-game communication to protect children online.
The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have announced a temporary suspension of chat features in Roblox, aiming to strengthen child protection measures on the platform. The move comes in response to mounting concerns over risks children may face, such as online predators, cyberbullying, hate speech, and exposure to inappropriate content.
Roblox Corporation confirmed its cooperation with regulators in both countries, stating that it had rolled out more than 100 new safety initiatives in 2025, alongside a platform-wide age estimation system. The company emphasized its commitment to monitoring content through advanced AI technologies, hiring Arabic-speaking moderators, and suspending certain communication features—including both voice and text chat—for all users in Saudi Arabia.
In a statement posted on X, the UAE Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) stressed: “Child safety online is a top priority. Together, we create a safe and supportive digital space for our children to explore, learn, and play with confidence.”
Meanwhile, Saudi newspaper Okaz reported that Roblox confirmed compliance with the requirements of the General Commission for Audiovisual Media (GCAM) in Saudi Arabia, ensuring stricter content regulation and enforcement of in-game violations.
The decision follows widespread concerns from parents and users who highlighted unsafe interactions children were exposed to while using Roblox. Previous reports had pointed to cases of harassment, unsafe communication, and harmful content targeting young users.
As a result, Roblox coordinated with regional authorities to temporarily disable both text and voice chat in these markets, strengthen parental controls, enhance Arabic-language content filtering, and improve moderation practices.
This move reflects a broader regional and global trend toward stricter oversight of online gaming communication, as governments and companies alike seek to balance child safety with the entertainment value of digital platforms.
In summary, the restrictions were driven by:
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Growing concerns about children’s exposure to unsafe interactions and harmful content.
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Regulatory pressure and cooperation between Roblox and government authorities.
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Efforts to improve monitoring, parental control, and Arabic content moderation.
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The launch of new safety policies and advanced technical safeguards.
Ultimately, the UAE and Saudi Arabia’s actions highlight how child safety in the digital space is becoming a non-negotiable priority, pushing global platforms like Roblox to adapt and implement higher safety standards.
العربية (Arabic) To read the article in Arabic, click here
