Officials in Los Angeles said they are suing Roblox, accusing the popular online platform of exposing children to sexual content, exploitation and online predators.
Los Angeles County said in a lawsuit that the company did not maintain adequate controls and that its age-verification systems were not fit for purpose.
“Roblox portrays its platform as a safe and appropriate place for children to play,” read a complaint filed by the LA County Counsel’s Office for violating California’s false advertising and public nuisance laws. “In fact, and as Roblox is well aware, the design of its platform makes children easy prey for pedophiles.”
The lawsuit against Roblox, which contests the claims, is the latest attempt to hold the online firm to account for alleged exploitative practices.
It unfolds in a trial in the US’s second-largest city in which social media giants including Facebook are being sued over their addictive algorithms targeting teenagers.
“This lawsuit is about protecting children from online predators and inappropriate content,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda Solis.
“Roblox has a responsibility to keep children safe, but instead it has allowed its platform to become a place where children can be groomed and exploited.”
Roblox says it has approximately 144 million daily active users worldwide, more than 40% of whom are under the age of 13.
Users can create, share and play various games and other experiences, chat with each other and use customizable avatars.
While it is free to use, players can purchase virtual currency that allows them to purchase certain upgrades.
The organization has long faced accusations that it is not doing enough to protect children from violent and sexual content.
A 2024 report by Hindenburg Research described it as an “X-rated pedophile hellscape” that subjected children to grooming and pornography.
This month the Australian government said it was seeking an urgent meeting with the company about child safety.
The lawsuit filed Thursday alleges that Roblox failed to adequately moderate user-generated content, enforce age restrictions or disclose the extent of inappropriate material and risks posed by sexual predators on the platform.
“This is not about a small lapse in security. This is about a company that gives pedophiles powerful tools to prey on innocent and unsuspecting children,” said Los Angeles County Attorney Davin R. Harrison.
“The resulting trauma is horrendous, from grooming to robbery to actual assault. This has to stop.”
In a statement to AFP, Roblox denied the allegations in the lawsuit, insisting the platform was built “with security at its core.”
“We have advanced protections that monitor our platform for harmful content and communications, and users cannot send or receive images via chat, avoiding the most prevalent opportunities for abuse found elsewhere online,” a spokesperson said.
The company said it will take swift action against people who violate its rules and work with law enforcement to hold them accountable.
“There is no finish line when it comes to protecting children and no system is perfect, our commitment to safety is never-ending.”
