Roblox is under fire as a US attorney general initiates legal action, labeling the platform a “playground for predators.” The lawsuit filed in a Kentucky court accuses Roblox of insufficiently safeguarding children on its gaming services. Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman is urging Roblox Corporation to enhance protections for minors, including better age verification and content filters.
During a news conference, Kentucky mother Courtney Norris expressed her initial misconception of Roblox as a safe online gaming option for her children. She later realized the platform’s potential dangers, describing it as the “Wild West” of the internet tailored to kids. This lawsuit adds to a series of legal actions taken against the company recently, with Louisiana and Iowa also pursuing cases following incidents of child exploitation on the platform.
Roblox defended itself on Tuesday, asserting the presence of robust safety measures such as AI monitoring and a dedicated team overseeing the platform continuously for inappropriate content. The company emphasized ongoing safety enhancements, including the introduction of 100 new safeguards like facial age estimation in the past year. With 111 million daily active users, Roblox stated its strict safety defaults for younger users, restricting direct messaging and implementing text chat filters to prevent harmful interactions.
Despite Roblox’s safety efforts, the Kentucky lawsuit alleges a lack of basic safety controls and failure to adequately warn users and parents about inherent risks on the platform. Coleman highlighted the deceptive appeal of Roblox’s child-friendly appearance, cautioning that it masks potential dangers lurking beneath the surface. The lawsuit accuses Roblox of exposing children to violent or sexual content and facilitating inappropriate interactions through third-party chat apps integrated into the game.
Acknowledging the importance of online safety for children, Roblox expressed willingness to engage in discussions with Coleman’s office to address concerns and reinforce user protections. Coleman emphasized that the objective is not to shut down the platform but to ensure a safe environment for users. The lawsuit seeks compliance with Kentucky’s Consumer Protection Act and penalties of up to $2,000 per violation to enforce stricter safety standards on Roblox.