Roblox
Summary
Roblox is an online game platform and game creation system that allows users to program games and play games created by others. The platform hosts games of multiple genres and can be accessed for free or with an optional paid subscription on most systems.
Breach History
Has there ever been a breach or data leak?
Date of last breach
January 2019
The incident resulted in many popular games being set to private by throwaway bot accounts, the names of some games being changed. Some popular users also had their accounts deleted as of a result, but it does not appear that any user information was leaked.
Privacy Checklist
Is any kind of biometric data collected (health, heart, voice, etc.)?
Are you able to delete your data / the data collected about you?
Does it use cookies, telemetry, or third-party tracking scripts?
Is the privacy policy user-friendly (easy to understand)?
Does it have parental controls?
Does it use encryption to protect your data both in-transit and at-rest?
Does it get regular software and / or firmware updates?
Does it require you to create a strong password?
Is there a system in place for managing security vulnerabilities?
Does it have a privacy policy?
How Can It Snoop?
Does it have a camera or request / require access to a camera?
Does it have a microphone or request / require access to a microphone?
Does it track your location or request / require access to location data?
Account Requirements
Does it require an email address to use?
Does it require a phone number to use?
Does it require an address (home or office) to use?
Payment Options
Are you able to use a credit card as a payment option?
Are you able to use a cryptocurrency as a payment option?
Are you able to use PayPal as a payment option?
Are you able to use cash or gift cards as a payment option?
What Could Go Wrong?
Roblox collects information from users such as username, age or date of birth, gender, regional location, and email address. Roblox says it can share this information with several third-party service providers, but that they are not permitted to sell the information. It does not appear that your data is in great danger in Roblox's hands, but keep in mind that your child may be using this platform, which means that Roblox and service providers will have access to their information.
How Does It Share Your Data?
Roblox may share personal information with third-party agents, contractors, or service providers, including Google, Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft. However, Roblox states that information is only provided to them to perform specific tasks and that they are not permitted to sell personal information.
Good Things
- Great gaming platform for kids.
- Educational value.
Bad Things
- Some privacy concerns.
- Previous data breach indicates a later attack is possible.
Final Thoughts
Roblox is a neat platform for kids to use to play games with their friends or design their own games. While the information provided to Roblox seems to be secure, keep in mind that it is possible that service providers such as Google, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft will have access to it, so be aware of that risk. Otherwise, Roblox seems to be a great platform for your child.