Roblox age verification: MCMC studies age checks for online games

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is studying how to extend age verification and age restrictions to online gaming platforms such as Roblox, to protect children. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said so on Monday 19 October 2026, according to Free Malaysia Today (FMT).

The move follows a warning the day before from former deputy inspector-general of police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay that extremists are recruiting children through online games. No decision or start date has been announced.

What Fahmi said

Fahmi spoke at a press conference after witnessing the exchange of documents for RM5.2 billion in financing for Digital Nasional Berhad. According to FMT, he said:

• he has discussed the matter with Roblox since last year and the company appeared willing to cooperate;
• the issue may simply be one of user verification and age verification;
• MCMC currently imposes age restrictions on social media users, and the government will examine whether digital identity verification and age verification can be extended to platforms like Roblox;
• the National Security Council is also monitoring the platform.

The report covers only what is being studied. FMT gave no policy design or timeline, and Roblox has not been quoted confirming the talks.

Ayob Khan's claims

Ayob Khan, who once headed the anti-terrorism unit at Bukit Aman, spoke at the Mawlid Perdana 6.0 Convention in Kuala Lumpur on 18 October. According to FMT and The Rakyat Post, he said:

• children as young as 12 are being recruited by extremists through games such as Roblox, and police recently arrested children aged 12, 14 and 15;
• recruiters befriend children in the game, then move them into private chat groups where they are taught to carry out attacks;
• some of the children were led to believe that killing police officers, soldiers and government officials is permitted in Islam;
• he called for effective preventive laws, together with education and parental supervision.

Both reports rely on Ayob Khan's own account. Neither carries a police statement confirming the arrests, and neither includes a comment from Roblox.

What Roblox already has

FMT cites Roblox's age-based account system for users under 16, launched globally in June:

• Roblox Kids (ages 5 to 8): minimal or mild content only, with communication features off by default.
• Roblox Select (ages 9 to 15): content up to a moderate level, with age-appropriate communication controls and parental settings.
• Ages 16 and 17: more mature content, including 16+ games, for users who pass age checks.
• Ages 18 and above: restricted games after age verification.

What parents can do now

• Check your child's account: make sure the registered age is correct so the content and chat limits apply.
• Use Roblox's parental settings to limit chat with people your child does not know.
• Ask your child who invites them to private groups outside the game, and report suspicious invitations to the police.

It is not yet known whether digital identity verification will be required for Malaysian players. For now, the government says only that it is studying the idea.

Sources

• Free Malaysia Today, MCMC mulls extending age restrictions to online gaming platforms, 19 October 2026
• Free Malaysia Today, SKMM teliti perluas sekatan umur ke permainan dalam talian, kata Fahmi, 19 October 2026
• Free Malaysia Today, Isis targets children through online games, says Ayub Khan, 18 October 2026
• The Rakyat Post, Children aged 12, 14 and 15 arrested after Roblox recruitment, former top cop says, 19 October 2026