Our commitment to safety and security in MYSverse

In today's interconnected digital world, we believe that creating safe and welcoming online spaces is more critical than ever. Here at MYSverse, this is not just a goal for us, it is a foundational pillar of everything we do.

We understand that fostering a positive environment where fun, education, and cultural exploration can thrive requires a robust commitment to player safety and security. This is especially true as we navigate the diverse local contexts and languages of our global player base, including our vibrant community here in Malaysia.

How we're protecting players in-game

Leading the way with localised safety in Lebuhraya

Our flagship Roblox title, Lebuhraya, is a prime example of our dedication to this cause.

We recognise that generic, international safety solutions often fall short when it comes to understanding local nuances. That is why we have implemented an extra chat filter layer on top of Roblox’s existing filters. This specialised system is specifically designed by us to detect and filter local Malaysian slang that might otherwise be missed.

Importantly, this filter works in a similar way to Roblox’s native system. Filtered words are not directly shown as filtered to the user sending them but are obscured for other players. We find this subtle yet effective approach makes it more challenging for individuals to actively find ways around the filters, contributing to a cleaner and more respectful chat environment for everyone.

In addition to our standard chat filter, we’ve implemented a shadowban system designed to silently mute disruptive players without alerting them. This tactic is commonly used in platforms like Reddit and multiplayer games such as Call of Duty.

By keeping the shadowban undetectable to the affected player, we’re able to limit further negative interactions while continuing to observe and collect evidence. This gives our moderation team the time and context needed to make fair, well-informed decisions, especially in more complex or borderline cases.

Beyond automated filtering, we believe in empowering our players. The chat system in Lebuhraya features constant reminders on how to deal with disruptive individuals.

This includes clear instructions in both Malay and English on how players can mute others on their end, and how to report any misconduct to both Roblox and our dedicated MYSverse Moderation team.

A visible presence and clear guidelines across our network

Our commitment does not stop at automated systems.

The MYSverse Moderation team maintains an occasional, and sometimes active, presence within our game experiences.

Their role extends beyond our games; they are also active on our Discord servers, diligently enforcing rules and maintaining a safe and respectful environment across our entire network. This allows us to monitor for any violations of game rules or community standards that might not be caught by automatic detections.

Our team also serves as a visible point of contact and reassurance for our players, wherever they choose to interact with the MYSverse community.

We believe in clear structures for accountability. To address any concerns specifically regarding moderators, there is a clear hierarchy in place.

This ensures that any such issues can be brought up to an administrator, avoiding potential conflicts of interest and ensuring fair handling of all complaints.

To ensure everyone understands the rules of engagement, our in-game phone app in Lebuhraya includes a clear and accessible list of game rules in both Malay and English.

We feel this caters to our diverse Malaysian community and ensures that our expectations are clearly communicated.

Fairness, accountability, and avenues for appeal

We understand that sometimes, misunderstandings or errors can occur. That is why we have established clear pathways for players to submit manual appeals.

In-game

• Players can utilise the in-game feedback form or visit the feedback centre (if they cannot access our usual experiences), selecting the "Ban Appeal" category.
• Their appeal will be reviewed through a separate pipeline from the outside of game form (more details below).

Outside of game (for users 13+)

• We offer a comprehensive moderation appeals system accessible outside of our games.
• These appeals are carefully reviewed by our moderation team, and we ensure the results are communicated via email and logged internally.

Accountability and internal logging

Further reinforcing our commitment to accountability, we maintain internal logs of when in-game admin commands are run. This practice acts as a deterrent against any potential misuse of administrative privileges and allows us to thoroughly investigate any cases of command abuse, ensuring fairness and integrity within our game environments.

A decade of dedication

Our track record and transparency

We are incredibly proud of our safety track record spanning over 10 years since MYSverse was founded as [MYS] Malaysia in 2014.

During this time, we have remained free of any serious controversies, such as allegations of grooming or other predatory behaviours, which unfortunately can occasionally surface within online communities. Given our size and scale, we believe that if any major incidents had occurred, word would have undoubtedly spread, considering how quickly such news can go viral these days.

While there have been a couple of instances in our early days that had the potential to escalate, our proactive approach and swift action, even with our limited capacity back then, ensured they were stopped before becoming serious concerns.

This vigilance applies equally, whether it involves community members or MYSverse team members.

Our active outreach to real-world organisations, including government agencies and brands, further underscores our commitment to transparency. We are honest about our processes and track record, and we firmly believe we have nothing to hide. We see this open approach as a testament to the robust safety measures we have in place.

Future developments

Strengthening our shield

Our commitment to safety is an ongoing journey, and we are constantly exploring ways to enhance our systems for you.

Enhanced player reporting

• We are currently working on a new player reporting system.
• This system will allow users to report individuals directly to MYSverse, in addition to or as an alternative to Roblox's reporting tools.
• This will enable us to take more direct and swift action on our end when necessary.

Community-driven safety

• We are considering making our custom chat filter open-source.
• We understand that exposing parts of the system might make it slightly easier for bad actors to attempt reverse-engineering.
  • However, we don’t believe in relying solely on obscurity for security. Our philosophy is rooted in openness and collaboration.
    • When the community is empowered to engage with and improve the tools we use, everyone benefits.
• That said, for safety and effectiveness, our sensitive word list will remain private, even if the broader codebase is made available.
  • This strikes a balance between transparency and the need to protect the integrity of the system.
• We hope this would allow other developers to benefit from our work and even customise the word lists to suit their specific player demographics, contributing to a safer Roblox ecosystem overall.

Improved ban appeals for all

• We plan to enhance our ban appeals system, particularly for our users below the age of 13.
• Our goal is to create a more integrated process that aligns with our more comprehensive system for users 13 and above.
• This will ensure consistency and fairness for all players.

Supporting our moderators

• Our dedicated moderation team is currently entirely volunteer-driven, and we deeply appreciate the invaluable time and effort they invest in keeping our community safe.
• To recognise their crucial contributions, we plan to introduce certificates of recognition via our Certifier web-based issuing system.
• Furthermore, we aim to introduce more automated tools to assist their work.
• As our revenue allows, we also hope to explore financial incentives to reward their hard work and dedication.

This "full spectrum" approach, which includes proactive filtering, player empowerment, active moderation across platforms, clear accountability structures, fair appeal processes, a zero-tolerance stance on serious misconduct, and a commitment to continuous improvement, acts as a powerful deterrent. It helps us maintain a safe, secure, and positive online environment where fun, education, and culture can flourish.

At MYSverse, your safety is our priority. We are continuously working to refine our systems and ensure that our experiences remain welcoming and secure for every player. Thank you for being a part of our community!