Roblox begins requiring selfies for chat feature, verified with a government ID or AI

WASHINGTON — Roblox, one of the most popular kids’ games in the world, is now requiring users to submit a photo of themselves with their government ID to use the chat function, or a selfie for automated “age estimation” using AI.  

The move comes after Roblox was hit with a series of lawsuits claiming the sandbox game fostered an unsafe environment for the children playing, exposing them to adults who could manipulate or groom them. 

Roblox has an estimated 80 million monthly users, many of them children, who control avatars in a variety of user-created worlds and game modes.

The updated policy was announced earlier this year. It will first be enforced in Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands, before expanding to other markets, including the U.S., sometime next year. 

To submit verification, a user must upload a photo of themselves along with their government-issued ID, such as a passport or driver’s license. 

But unlike most social media apps, which have a minimum age of 13, Roblox allows younger children to use the platform. Since most children and young teens don’t have an ID, they will need to submit a selfie to the platform for verification using a third-party AI scan. 

Roblox says it has partnered with Persona, a data collection service, to verify users using an AI system. 

“We estimate your age by analyzing a selfie of your face and examining your facial features,” the company explained on its website. “Your estimated age helps place you in the appropriate age group (under 13, 13+ and 18+) to customize your experience on Roblox. If you are placed in the under-13 age group based on facial age estimation, certain personal data, including your email and phone number, will be removed from Roblox.” 

The new chat system being rolled out with the verification requirement is “age-based,” meaning it will limit users’ ability to interact with people outside their age group. 

Roblox didn’t provide details on how accurate its age estimation features are, but Engadget reports that the company’s Chief Safety Officer, Matt Kaufman, called the verification “pretty accurate.”

“What we find is that the algorithms between that 5 and 25 years old (range) are typically pretty accurate within one or two years of their age,” Kaufman reportedly said during a briefing with reporters.

Roblox has come under increased scrutiny from lawmakers and law enforcement officials in recent years, partly because it allows young users to create accounts and interact with others. 

Attorneys General from Louisiana and Kentucky filed separate lawsuits against the company, accusing Roblox of harming children earlier this year. Florida’s Attorney General has filed a criminal subpoena for information about the company, calling the platform a “breeding ground for predators.” 

Alongside the increased political pressure, Roblox also faces criticism from advocates, parents and law enforcement officials. 

The platform has, for years, been accused of allowing content not appropriate for children and endangering them. In April, NBC News reported that a California man had been arrested for kidnapping a 10-year-old boy he met on the platform.