Louisiana Sues Roblox Over Alleged Failure to Protect Children from Predators and Sexually Explicit Content

The Louisiana Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against Roblox, alleging that the company has neglected to implement sufficient safety measures to protect its underage users from online predators. According to the lawsuit, Roblox, with over 111.8 million daily active users, has failed to address the prevalence of harmful content and child predators on its platform.

Attorney General Liz Murrill claims that the company prioritizes user growth, revenue, and profits over child safety. The lawsuit alleges that Roblox has been aware of malicious activities on its platform, including sexually explicit material and instances of child gang rape, but has chosen to turn a blind eye.

Louisiana’s accusations are further supported by a recent report revealing a group of 3,334 members openly trading child pornography and soliciting sexual acts from minors on the platform. Additionally, during a search warrant execution in Louisiana, authorities discovered an individual using Roblox who was also found to be in possession of child sexual abuse material and voice-altering technology designed to lure and sexually exploit minor users.

Concerns about safety have been raised regarding Roblox for several years, but the issue has gained renewed attention following a controversial cease-and-desist order issued by the company to popular YouTuber Schlep. The order was issued after Schlep attempted to expose child sex predators on the platform, sparking concerns of a coverup.

“I am peeling back the curtain of what is really going on, and I am definitely upsetting some people at Roblox,” Schlep told reporters.

Roblox has responded to the allegations, stating that they are committed to maintaining a safe platform for their users. The company emphasizes its dedication to advanced technology and 24/7 human moderation to detect and prevent inappropriate content and behavior. However, the lawsuit alleges that these measures have proven insufficient in protecting underage users from online predators.

In response to criticism, Roblox recently published a blog post justifying its decision to ban Schlep and other “vigilantes” from the platform. According to the company, these individuals were found to be impersonating children and actively seeking to connect with adult users, bypassing Roblox’s safety systems. The company claims that this behavior created an unsafe environment and normalized unacceptable behavior.

As a professional journalist, it is crucial to ensure the safety of all users on digital platforms, particularly those who are vulnerable, such as children. It remains to be seen how this lawsuit will impact Roblox’s commitment to protecting its underage users from online predators.