Kuwaiti Cybersecurity Expert Warns of roblox Risks to Children: Financial Exploitation and Psychological Harm
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KUWAIT CITY – Children in Kuwait are facing significant dangers on the popular gaming platform Roblox, ranging from exposure to predatory strangers to substantial financial exploitation, according to cybersecurity expert Bassam Al-Abdan. His warnings come as Kuwaiti authorities recently temporarily blocked access to the platform due to growing safety and financial concerns.
Speaking on Kuwaiti television this week, Al-Abdan detailed how Roblox’s immersive virtual world, where children can build, create, and purchase digital items, simultaneously creates vulnerabilities. He cited cases of parents unknowingly racking up exorbitant bills. “Some parents reported spending up to KD 1,200 (approximately $3,900 USD) per month as their children are deeply attached to the game,” Al-Abdan revealed.
Kuwait is not alone in its concerns. Similar restrictions on Roblox have been implemented in Qatar, Oman, Turkey, China, the UAE, and Australia, reflecting a global unease about the platform’s safety protocols.
Roblox: A Virtual Universe with Real-World Risks
Roblox boasts over 85 million daily users, with approximately 40 percent being under the age of 13.The platform describes itself as ”the ultimate virtual universe,” hosting millions of user-generated games. While Roblox implements safety measures such as restricted messaging for younger accounts and AI-moderated voice chat for teenagers, experts argue thes controls are insufficient and easily circumvented.
A recent investigation by The Guardian in April 2025 underscored this disconnect, stating there’s “a troubling disconnect between [Roblox’s] child-friendly appearance and the reality of what children experience.” The report highlighted instances of children as young as five engaging in conversations with adults and encountering sexually suggestive content,despite the platform’s safeguards.
fraudulent Schemes and Financial Loss
Al-Abdan shared a especially alarming case he investigated. “A parent contacted me distressed, saying, ‘My bank account keeps getting debited, but I don’t know where the money is going.’ After tracing the transactions, we discovered they were linked to Roblox and other websites,” he explained.
The investigation revealed a complex scam. The parent’s son had been contacted by an individual posing as a child.”These fraudsters utilize programs to alter their voice,making it believable to the child,” Al-abdan said. ”Eventually, the fraudster convinced the boy to send a photo of his father’s bank card, and then began making unauthorized deductions.”
Beyond Finances: Psychological and Moral Concerns
The risks extend far beyond financial loss, Al-Abdan emphasized. “The consequences are severe: psychological and even physical. A child could be influenced to ask for inappropriate things, imitate behaviors that contradict our traditions, or encounter ideas that are harmful and contrary to religious values.That’s the deeper danger.”
A Three-Pronged Approach to Safety
Al-Abdan advocates for a collaborative solution involving parents, technology companies, and goverment regulation. He suggested Kuwait could follow the UAE’s example and negotiate with Roblox to implement localized rules, which ultimately led to the lifting of the UAE’s previous ban.
However,he stressed that parental involvement is paramount. “Every child must have their accurate date of birth entered during registration. Roblox offers age-segmented games, and correctly configured accounts are linked to a parent’s email address and cannot be altered without proper identification, such as a passport or ID.”
He further advised parents to diligently safeguard financial data and actively monitor their children’s online activity. Open interaction and education are key to protecting our children in the digital world,
Al-Abdan concluded.
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