Kentucky AG Sues Roblox Over Alleged Failure to Protect Children From Predators

The lawsuit claims that child users are being exposed to ‘violent or sexual situations within the Roblox universe.’

Gaming platform Roblox displayed on a tablet in New York state on Oct. 30, 2021. Leon Keith /AP Photo

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman filed a lawsuit against Roblox on Oct. 7, alleging that the gaming platform failed to implement sufficient safety controls to protect child users from predators.

Roblox is an interactive online gaming platform on which users can create and play games and connect in real time. Coleman said nearly two-thirds of children aged 9 to 12 in the United States play on Roblox.

In his lawsuit, Coleman alleged that Roblox failed to inform child users and their parents of the inherent dangers on the platform. The attorney general said the platform created “a hunting ground for child predators” by failing to implement basic safety measures for child users.

“These dangers are not trivial: They range from child predators acting alone to international organizations—linked with terrorist groups—that are dedicated to child sexual exploitation and self-harm,” the lawsuit states.

According to Coleman, Roblox allowed children to create accounts without requiring any form of identity verification or parental consent, making the gaming platform accessible to all users.

The lawsuit claims that child users are being exposed to “violent or sexual situations within the Roblox universe,” with parents reporting that their children were contacted by strangers through “third-party chat apps that function as if they are part of the game.”

“Our children are not safe on Roblox,” Coleman said in a statement. “Predators and criminals aren’t just lurking in the platform’s shadows; they’ve been allowed to commit their crimes out in the open.”

Courtney Norris, a Jefferson County, Kentucky, mother of three, said she had been mistaken in thinking that Roblox was a “safe choice” for her children.

“That is the genius, and danger, I found of Roblox—the illusion of safety it gives parents like me,” Norris said in the statement issued by Coleman’s office. “The reality is, Roblox makes it nearly impossible to police as a parent. It takes constant vigilance.”

In an emailed statement to The Epoch Times, a Roblox spokesperson denied the allegations, saying that Coleman’s lawsuit relies on “outdated and out-of-context information.”

“We welcome the opportunity for a direct conversation with the Attorney General, as we do with other policymakers,” the spokesperson stated. “The AG’s office is partnering with plaintiff’s attorneys, who we believe have misrepresented matters to seek financial gain.”

The spokesperson added that Roblox is “constantly innovating and investing in safety,” noting that the platform has “shipped over 100 safety features” within this year.

This is the latest in a series of legal challenges against the popular gaming platform. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill filed a lawsuit against Roblox on Aug. 14, alleging that the company facilitated the distribution of child sexual abuse material on its platform.

Roblox has rejected Murrill’s allegations, stating that it has implemented “rigorous safeguards” to protect users, including restrictions on sharing personal information and user-to-user image sharing.

“The assertion that Roblox would intentionally put our users at risk of exploitation is categorically untrue,” a Roblox spokesperson said at the time in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in September that his office has requested legal services to investigate and potentially file a lawsuit against Roblox over what he called “serious child safety concerns.”

This article has been updated with a response from Roblox.