Australia’s Watchful Eye on Valve: Scrutiny Over Extremist Content on Steam
Valve is currently facing some serious heat from the Australian government, with the threat of hefty fines reaching up to AU$825,000 daily if they don’t comply with a transparency notice issued by the eSafety Commissioner. The regulator highlighted that Steam is allegedly a gathering spot for various extreme-right communities, prompting the company to clarify how they aim to “identify, prevent, and respond to these dangers.”
But it’s not just Valve feeling the pressure. Other gaming giants like Roblox, Microsoft (with Minecraft), and Epic Games (associated with Fortnite) are also under scrutiny and have received similar notices. Julie Inman Grant, the eSafety Commissioner, expressed concerns over troubling reports of grooming activity across these platforms, along with violent and extremist-themed gameplay. She pointed out instances of Islamic State-inspired games on Roblox and far-right groups recreating fascist imagery in Minecraft.
In addition, media reports have called out Fortnite for gamifying horrifying events, such as the WWII Jasenovac concentration camp and the January 6th Capitol riots. Steam, in particular, has come under fire for allegedly being a hotspot for far-right communities. I’ve reached out to Valve for their take on this situation and will keep you all updated if I get a response.
This notice was issued by the same Australian body responsible for creating new Age-Restricted Material Codes, aimed at ensuring that under-18s can’t access adult content. Although this regulation has been in place since March, not all platforms have taken action, despite the looming threat of fines that could reach AU$49.5 million. Valve hasn’t rolled out any such measures yet, nor has Rockstar, while Sony is currently implementing them.
Sony is adopting Yoti for its age verification, while others like Roblox and Substack are using Persona, which is linked to Peter Thiel, a co-founder of Palantir. While it’s crucial to keep minors away from adult material, concerns about privacy arise when personal information like photo IDs is shared with third-party companies.
Regardless, the eSafety Commissioner isn’t focused on the methods of enforcement; they just want to see actions taken. This isn’t the first time Valve has found itself in hot water over allowing extremist content on Steam. Back in 2022, a US senator challenged Gabe Newell about it, and another senator echoed these concerns in 2024, labeling Steam as an “unsafe environment for teens and young adults.”