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PayPalAustralia's eSafety agency sent legal notices to Valve / Steam, Roblox, Minecraft and Fortnite to explain how they're fighting sexual predators and extremists.
In a statement published today, all those mentioned are now legally required to respond on how they're combating a mixture of concerns eSafety have including how they're dealing with sexual predators grooming children and extremist groups that spread violent propaganda and radicalise young people.
From the statement: "We've seen numerous media reports about grooming taking place on all four of these platforms as well as terrorist and violent extremist-themed gameplay. This includes Islamic State-inspired games and recreations of mass shootings on Roblox, as well as far right groups recreating fascist imagery in Minecraft." said eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, "Media reports have also pointed to games in Fortnite gamifying the horrific events of the WWII Jasenovac concentration camp and the January 6th US Capitol Building riots, while Steam is reportedly a hub for a number of extreme-right communities".
All companies involved risk fines of up to AU$825,000 a day if they do not comply.
Much like the UK, Australia has their own "Online Safety Act" all platforms need to adhere to, which includes their own "Online Safety Codes and Standards". They also more recently added the "Age-Restricted Material Codes" which appears to require age verification too for various things that Valve and others need to implement. Breaching those codes can have huge penalties too of "up to $49.5 million per breach".
So it seems Valve and other companies have work to do.
I've emailed Valve press to see if they have anything to share on this.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
About the author - Liam Dawe
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. You can follow me personally on Mastodon [External Link].
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14 comments
This smells like people not understanding how things work.
Why are people in the government relying on random media reports? Didn't they think to check for themselves?
Also, how do you expect MS to limit this kind of creativity in a game that allows for creativity in the first place? It's already impossible to make people not say unwanted things in simple text-chat, how the heck is that supposed to work in Minecraft?
Now don't get me wrong, I am all for not having kids run into extremists and predators online – but I have no idea how Australia's eSafety agency imagines this is going to work in detail. Or perhaps they just don't.
edit: fixed some typos
Last edited by neolith on 22 Apr 2026 at 11:43 am UTC
We've seen numerous media reports about grooming taking place on all four of these platforms...Well, yeah... different kinds of media outlets publicize all kind of reports. That doesn't mean they are good reports and it doesn't mean what they report has to be true. I've seen reports that claim that all gamers are just waiting to run amok or that aliens have visited.
Why are people in the government relying on random media reports? Didn't they think to check for themselves?
... as well as terrorist and violent extremist-themed gameplay.By that definition that does include Counterstrike. Are we at that point again? I feel like we've been there ~25 years ago.
... as well as far right groups recreating fascist imagery in Minecraft.This might come as a surprise, but you can also do that stuff in Photoshop. I don't like it but that doesn't mean that Adobe should be forced to take action. I am not a Minecraft player, but aren't the worlds selfhosted?
Also, how do you expect MS to limit this kind of creativity in a game that allows for creativity in the first place? It's already impossible to make people not say unwanted things in simple text-chat, how the heck is that supposed to work in Minecraft?
Media reports have also pointed to games in Fortnite gamifying the horrific events...I am also not a Fortnite player. Does that game have a sandbox mode?
... while Steam is reportedly a hub for a number of extreme-right communitiesReportedly? Didn't they care to check for themselves? I feel whenever you are trying to pass a law, you should not rely on hearsay.
Now don't get me wrong, I am all for not having kids run into extremists and predators online – but I have no idea how Australia's eSafety agency imagines this is going to work in detail. Or perhaps they just don't.
edit: fixed some typos
Last edited by neolith on 22 Apr 2026 at 11:43 am UTC
6 Likes
Quoting: neolithbut I have no idea how Australia's eSafety agency imagines this is going to work in detail. Or perhaps they just don't.My guess would be, they don't.
They probably just want the devs/companies they are contacting to tell them how they tackle those issues so they themselves won't have to do anything.
Some of the wording is a bit nonsensical, though, I agree.
How exactly do you want to stop someone from, idk, building some swastika-looking things? You can't.
And anything that allows peer 2 peer communication can in theory be abused by one group or another to do their communication in.
At least for Valve/Steam, though, as far as I know message get auto-checked / auto-modded before publishing?
I assume these "reports" they are talking about Steam being a "hub" for one group or another is probably some milquetoast stuff like those "isitwoke" etc curator groups?
I mean, I'd gladly remove any political culture war nonsense from gaming, so getting rid of those would not exactly make me shed tears. However, I do not believe there is really a basis for this.
Yes, all of this feels A LOT like amateur hour - which is unfortunately kind of normal whenever politicians get involved in anything even remotely out of their interest/age group.
Last edited by TheSHEEEP on 22 Apr 2026 at 9:37 am UTC
5 Likes
hardpenguin 13 hours ago
Good. It's time for gaming companies to take responsibility for spaces they own but opened to public.
You would ban an actively harmful and violent person out of your bar, football pitch, or book club, wouldn't you? This is the same.
You would ban an actively harmful and violent person out of your bar, football pitch, or book club, wouldn't you? This is the same.
3 Likes
Quoting: hardpenguinYou would ban an actively harmful and violent person out of your bar, football pitch, or book club, wouldn't you? This is the same.I don't think it is the same. This is akin to trying to get Olympia to make sure their typewriters are not used to write an extremist manifesto - which is arguably also a lot harder to do than kicking an unwanted person out of a bar.
Any means of communication can be used to communicate bad things.
5 Likes
benstor214 11 hours ago
This afternoon I will paint a swastika in MS Paint. That’s right, Microsoft (MSFT) is far-right because it is enabling me to create far-right propaganda material.
Then I will print the swastika with my Hewlett-Packard InkJet. The 'P' in 'HP' stands for 'Phacist', a bonafide nazi-company.
I will conclude my already very productive afternoon by going to a mailbox in order to send the printed swastika to a friend. Australia Post serves as a formidable communication platform for extremist like my friend and me. Their post offices are veritable hubs for alt-right, extreme right and all other kind of facist minded people.
How is it possible that none of this 3 companies is investigated for enabling me from spreading my hateful speech?
Won’t someone think of the children?!
Last edited by benstor214 on 22 Apr 2026 at 12:04 pm UTC
Then I will print the swastika with my Hewlett-Packard InkJet. The 'P' in 'HP' stands for 'Phacist', a bonafide nazi-company.
I will conclude my already very productive afternoon by going to a mailbox in order to send the printed swastika to a friend. Australia Post serves as a formidable communication platform for extremist like my friend and me. Their post offices are veritable hubs for alt-right, extreme right and all other kind of facist minded people.
How is it possible that none of this 3 companies is investigated for enabling me from spreading my hateful speech?
Won’t someone think of the children?!
Last edited by benstor214 on 22 Apr 2026 at 12:04 pm UTC
9 Likes
Comparing MS Paint to online platforms makes no sense. This isn't about how you use software, it's about how you regulate online platforms. Roblox, Minecraft and Steam are not "games" per se (unless you stick to single player Minecraft). Just thought you should be made aware of a very simple difference. Grooming, for example, has been widely reported on Roblox.
Also, you can use your printer to print whatever you like. You shouldn't be able to parade around promoting your hate speech and using your printed hate symbol in public. It's a serious debate, and sadly it seems a bunch of people commenting here don't even seem to understand the nature of the subject itself. I personally believe in banning n*z1s and groomers everywhere possible (by the same argument hardpenguin stated), but I don't know, that's my non-n*z1 non groomer perspective.
Also, you can use your printer to print whatever you like. You shouldn't be able to parade around promoting your hate speech and using your printed hate symbol in public. It's a serious debate, and sadly it seems a bunch of people commenting here don't even seem to understand the nature of the subject itself. I personally believe in banning n*z1s and groomers everywhere possible (by the same argument hardpenguin stated), but I don't know, that's my non-n*z1 non groomer perspective.
0 Likes
Just more government control that ultimately will not yield any results. So glad I don't live in Australia.
2 Likes
Quoting: hardpenguinGood. It's time for gaming companies to take responsibility for spaces they own but opened to public.Define actively harmful. I send my Turkish lady friend a joke about hitler and khm... sex toys, and it contained swastika. Or swastika MADE of sex toys. Which she loved and was laughing about. Am I actively harmful? Its just power grab by crazy people in head of state of AU. Nothing else. Anyone who is not opposing it is brain washed.
You would ban an actively harmful and violent person out of your bar, football pitch, or book club, wouldn't you? This is the same.
0 Likes
how about targeting actual extremists in actual places where extremists dwell
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Cloversheen 6 hours ago
It's starting to get REALLY expensive to compete with the already established tech giants....
And this is still just populism. No-one wants to be seen as "weak on extremists" or be accused of not "wanting to protect the children" (both terms are drenched in deep double speak and dog whistling).
Everyone is trying to kick the can to someone else, it's a lot easier. Facebook wants the kick age validation to governments, politicians want to be seen kicking the can to companies.
Companies should take responsibility, and so should governments. This is neither taking responsibility, and is just a bunch of theater.
Sorry, old man ranting again.
(At least the coffee price is down somewhat!)
And this is still just populism. No-one wants to be seen as "weak on extremists" or be accused of not "wanting to protect the children" (both terms are drenched in deep double speak and dog whistling).
Everyone is trying to kick the can to someone else, it's a lot easier. Facebook wants the kick age validation to governments, politicians want to be seen kicking the can to companies.
Companies should take responsibility, and so should governments. This is neither taking responsibility, and is just a bunch of theater.
Sorry, old man ranting again.
(At least the coffee price is down somewhat!)
0 Likes
Caldathras 5 hours ago
All companies involved risk fines of up to AU$825,000 a day if they do not comply.It seems to me that the natural response of these companies would be to block Australia from their services. The fines only matter if the companies consider the eSafety agency's concerns valid and want to do business in Australia. Otherwise, it's just lost tax revenue for the AU government.
0 Likes
Anyone else noticing that countries and companies are loopholing authoritarianism through capitalist punishment hard lately? That has me terrified, because it means they found a means to get what they want through financial punishment rather than actual legislature.
Like, for example, the whole Visa and Mastercard situation. They're not banning NSFW content explicitly, they're just saying you can't earn money from it, which is close enough. Here, they're not explicitly banning freedom of speech outside of their own country, they're just fining Valve till the company does it themselves worldwide. Parents Decide act isn't banning linux, they're just making it untenable to comply with or face fines an open source community can't handle.
Makes me sick to my stomach, tbh. Especially because they're dressing it up in "fighting extremism" or "protecting children", people who aren't these authoritarians defend it themselves because they don't think of the collateral implications and context of what enforcing this kind of stuff actually entails. It will not be done with the scalpel it requires, it will be done with a zweihander.
I also see "yeah well just block [thing] in [place], problem solved" as incredibly short sighted, especially as a californian that would very much like to still be using linux after age verification laws we didn't even want got slipped in before we could even have a say about it, and I have to watch all these people go "yeah just ban linux from california then" - said before "Parents Decide" made it USA-wide
In for some scary times ahead.
Like, for example, the whole Visa and Mastercard situation. They're not banning NSFW content explicitly, they're just saying you can't earn money from it, which is close enough. Here, they're not explicitly banning freedom of speech outside of their own country, they're just fining Valve till the company does it themselves worldwide. Parents Decide act isn't banning linux, they're just making it untenable to comply with or face fines an open source community can't handle.
Makes me sick to my stomach, tbh. Especially because they're dressing it up in "fighting extremism" or "protecting children", people who aren't these authoritarians defend it themselves because they don't think of the collateral implications and context of what enforcing this kind of stuff actually entails. It will not be done with the scalpel it requires, it will be done with a zweihander.
I also see "yeah well just block [thing] in [place], problem solved" as incredibly short sighted, especially as a californian that would very much like to still be using linux after age verification laws we didn't even want got slipped in before we could even have a say about it, and I have to watch all these people go "yeah just ban linux from california then" - said before "Parents Decide" made it USA-wide
In for some scary times ahead.
2 Likes
Linux_Rocks 2 hours ago
They target Islam in this, but what about the other cults of Abraham or even other mythologies period? Cause Judeo-Christian bullshit can be just as extremist as Islam. I don't like any mythology, but bigotry is stupid regardless.
Furthermore, they'll probably just end up using this against the actual left and labor or peace activists too. Can't have too much social justice or freedom for workers after all.
Also, I don't know how Aussies still aren't pissed about the US/CIA coup d'état in their country back in the day.
Furthermore, they'll probably just end up using this against the actual left and labor or peace activists too. Can't have too much social justice or freedom for workers after all.
Also, I don't know how Aussies still aren't pissed about the US/CIA coup d'état in their country back in the day.
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