The online gaming sensation Roblox is under scrutiny in Florida, where the state’s attorney general has labeled it a “hotbed for child predators.”
Florida Attorney General James Usmeyer announced on Monday that Roblox does not provide sufficient protection for children against sexual predators and lacks proper age verification for its users, referencing an ongoing civil investigation from April.
“Roblox has essentially created a space for child predators to enter, request personal information and locations, and ultimately harm kids. This issue isn’t just a Florida problem,” prosecutors mentioned during an appearance on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends.”
“We will exhaust every avenue to target child predators and hold Roblox accountable. We believe they have knowingly permitted their platform to be exploited in this manner.”
Roblox has yet to respond to requests for comment from the press.
Around 40 million players—over a third of Roblox’s user base—are under 13 years old.
This game, designed for children as young as 8 or 9, also attracts adults who can interact with younger players via private chats and voice features.
Previous investigations have already pointed out how predators have used Roblox to groom minors. The Florida Attorney General’s Office indicated that adults could impersonate children on the platform, while content moderation efforts have struggled to catch explicit material.
Despite these claims, Roblox asserts that it is safe for younger users.
In July, the company introduced a face-scanning function to help verify user ages. However, safety experts argue that individuals can bypass this by using someone else’s account.
According to Usmeyer, some predators have used Roblox’s in-game currency, known as Robux, to entice minors into sending sexually explicit images.
In August, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill filed a lawsuit, asserting that Roblox is “the perfect place for pedophiles.”
Additionally, a case has emerged involving the mother of a 15-year-old autistic boy who committed suicide. She has sued Roblox for wrongful death, claiming the app’s inadequate safety measures allowed her son to be manipulated and coerced by adult predators into sharing explicit photos.
So far this year, more than 20 lawsuits have been filed in federal court alleging that Roblox facilitates sexual exploitation, according to reports from the New York Times.
Usmeyer noted that over 1,000 child predators have been apprehended in Florida this year, with many investigations linked back to Roblox.
