Roblox, a popular online gaming platform, is the target of a lawsuit filed by Los Angeles County seeking an injunction and civil penalties for allegedly false advertising, engaging in unfair competition and allowing “the systematic sexual exploitation and abuse of children throughout the United States.”
The suit, following the changes and additions Roblox has made to its site, including adding mandatory age verification in other respects, it is part of a series of legal actions against gaming and social media platforms and the way they handle the use of teenagers and young children. Los Angeles County is also home to ongoing litigation involving Meta over social media addiction.
Roblox responded to the allegations, telling CNET, “We strongly dispute the claims in this case and will defend ourselves vigorously. Roblox is built with security at its core, and we continue to improve and strengthen our defenses every day.”
The company added that it has advanced security measures to monitor content and communications. “Security is a constant and constant focus of our work,” said Roblox.
The company identified its Safety Center as a resource for parents.
Los Angeles County Attorney Dawyn R. Harrison, who filed the lawsuit, said he was not happy with Roblox’s efforts to keep children safe.
“This is not about safety. It’s about a company that gives abusers powerful tools to prey on innocent and unsuspecting children,” Harrison said in a release Friday. “The resulting trauma is horrific, from grooming to abuse to actual beatings. This must be stopped.”
Roblox is one of the largest gaming platforms with nearly 151 million active users. The amount of time its players spend in its virtual world is reportedly more than PlayStation Network and PC gaming hub Steam combined.
What is in the complaint
In addition to alleging that Roblox’s protections against child abusers are inadequate, the LA County suit also claims that Roblox markets itself as a safe platform for young players. Such marketing is “false, misleading and illegal” because of the company’s platform choices, the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit points to the design of the Roblox platform and its security structure and monetization methods as ways the company allegedly exposes children to harm.
In more detail, the 82-count filing points to years of allegations across articles, research and incidents involving certain games in the area, including screenshots of inappropriate child content and social media posts.
Other companies have recently followed Roblox’s lead in introducing age verification or rating tools, including Disagreement again YouTube.
There is an overlap between the allegations against Roblox and the lawsuits and investigations against social media companies, such as Meta and TikTok. Countries like Australia they have banned social media entirely from children (although Roblox is not included in the Australian ban).
