Roblox Corp pledged to boost safety measures and is prepared to share data with the Malaysian government, according to a minister, as officials weigh action over the popular video game after it was linked to a stabbing case in the South-East Asian nation.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said she met with representatives of Roblox amid concern over the impact that some online games have on children’s behavior and emotions. Roblox has more than one million users in Malaysia alone, she said.
"They gave their assurance that they would enhance safety through the use of AI technology and human monitoring, and are willing to work with the Malaysian government, especially when it comes to data sharing and compliance with government regulations,” Yeoh wrote on Facebook on Monday.
Roblox came under scrutiny in Malaysia after police said the game may have influenced a nine-year-old to attack his younger brother. He had been playing the game excessively, amassing about a million points, before his phone was damaged by the younger brother, The Star reported, citing Johor police chief Ab Rahaman Arsad.
The victim, six, was found with slash wounds on his neck and stab injuries on his body, according to local media. The case has prompted the government to consider banning or regulating online games. – Bloomberg
