Home / Technology / Roblox Forces Facial Scans for Chat Access
Roblox Forces Facial Scans for Chat Access
7 Jan
Summary
- Mandatory facial verification now required for Roblox chat.
- Users 13+ can opt for ID verification instead of facial scans.
- Age verification is optional but required for communication features.
Roblox is now globally requiring mandatory facial verification for all users to access chat functionalities, a move prompted by numerous child safety lawsuits and investigations. Users must verify their age via their device's camera or opt for ID verification if they are 13 or older. While age verification is optional for general platform use, it is a prerequisite for engaging in any communication features.
The company assures that images and videos captured during the facial verification process will be deleted immediately after processing by a third-party vendor, Persona. If the age-check system inaccurately estimates a user's age, an appeal process is available, allowing for alternative verification methods. Roblox stated it uses multiple signals to assess user behavior and may require re-verification if discrepancies are found.
This stringent measure comes in the wake of lawsuits from state attorneys general concerning child safety, including exposure to grooming and explicit content. The new system is designed to offer a more reliable method of age confirmation compared to the previous birth year entry. Upon successful verification, users are placed into age-based chat groups, limiting communication to peers within similar age brackets.
