Roblox is set to enforce mandatory facial recognition and ID-based age checks for chat features worldwide, expanding a system it says is designed to enhance user safety amid growing regulatory pressure. The process, introduced voluntarily on Nov. 18, will become compulsory on Dec. 1 in Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands, before rolling out globally in January 2026.
The company said the new verification system will require users to complete facial age estimation or provide identification to access messaging. In its announcement, Roblox stated: “All users can now voluntarily go through the Facial Age Estimation process to secure their access to communication features… Those requirements will extend to the rest of the world wherever chat is available in early January.” The facial recognition method uses a short video selfie analyzed by third-party vendor Persona, grouping users into age brackets ranging from under 9 to 21+.
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Once verified, users will only be able to chat with others in the same age group. Children under 9 will not have chat access unless parents give consent, and users under 13 will be restricted from sending or receiving private messages. Roblox will allow “trusted connections” approved by guardians, enabling communication with siblings or other vetted contacts.
The new rules come after scrutiny from several U.S. state attorneys general, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who accused the platform of failing to protect minors from predators. Roblox defended the initiative as a step forward, saying: “As the internet has matured, technological advancements in safety and security have steadily shifted the industry’s approach to age assurance. Today, Roblox is going further.”
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However, the system has already drawn criticism due to reports of misclassification. Some adults have been labeled as teenagers, and teens have been sorted into younger age groups, with one 25-year-old developer reporting they were classified as 13+. Users on Reddit have questioned the accuracy of the AI-powered system and expressed concern over the platform’s reliance on third-party facial analysis tools.
Source: Roblox