Roblox Corp has promised to strengthen its safety measures and share user data with the Malaysian government following a recent incident linking the popular online game to a violent crime involving children.
Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Minister, Hannah Yeoh, said she met with Roblox representatives amid growing concern over how online games may influence children’s emotions and behavior. Roblox currently has over one million users in Malaysia.
“They assured us they will enhance safety using AI technology and human monitoring, and are willing to work closely with the Malaysian government, especially regarding data sharing and compliance with regulations,” Yeoh said in a Facebook post on Nov 3.
The platform came under scrutiny after police in Johor reported that a nine-year-old boy allegedly attacked his younger brother after becoming obsessed with the game. The boy had reportedly accumulated around a million points in Roblox before his phone was damaged by his six-year-old sibling, according to The Star.
Local media reported that the younger boy sustained slash wounds to his neck and multiple stab injuries.
The shocking case has prompted Malaysian authorities to consider stricter regulations—or even a potential ban—on online games that may negatively impact children’s mental health and behavior.
