Roblox Becomes Terrorist Recruitment Ground, BNPT Exposes the Methods

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) has revealed that Roblox is being used as a recruitment site for terrorism targeting children. This activity exploits the chat features available on the platform. “Some time ago, we have prevented the recruitment process targeting 112 children through this Roblox media,” said BNPT Chief Eddy Hartono during a press conference at the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) office on Thursday (30/4/2026). According to the report, the recruitment or digital grooming is carried out in stages. The perpetrators approach through chat and build empathy with the children while playing games. After this approach, they move to other platforms. There, they are given doctrines related to terrorist ideologies. “Well, after the digital grooming is done and they feel like they share the same fate in the group while playing, then they are invited to other platforms like WhatsApp or Telegram,” he explained. Roblox itself is one of eight high-risk platforms that have complied with PP Tunas. The regulation limits access for users under 16 years old. Specifically for Roblox, the gaming platform restricts chat features and differentiates games for users under 16. The platform will require users to undergo facial verification to confirm their age. If an age under 16 is found, communication features are restricted. The same applies to those who do not verify even if they are not in the restricted age group. “So, this is what is important, that those who do not verify their age will have their chats disabled. This includes the possibility that someone over 16 does not do facial verification; their communication features will also be automatically disabled, and there will be restrictions on games to those suitable for young children,” said Minister of Komdigi, Meutya Hafid. She also stated that chat feature restrictions will apply to all games operating in Indonesia. Those platforms will be subject to the same PP Tunas regulations. “Yes, all of them. So, all platforms including games will be subject to the same regulation,” she revealed.