Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Roblox, alleging that the platform has prioritized profits over the safety of children in Texas. The lawsuit claims that Roblox is violating state and federal online safety laws and misleading parents regarding the safety of its platform. It specifically accuses the company of deceptive trade practices, asserting that Roblox has become a space where child predators frequently interact with minors.
The suit references instances of abuse involving children who encountered predators on Roblox, as well as activities by groups that exploit online platforms to blackmail victims into sexually explicit acts. According to the lawsuit, Roblox acted to improve its parental controls only after facing multiple lawsuits and following a report by Hindenburg Research, which described alarming safety concerns on the platform.
Other states have also pursued legal action against Roblox. Louisiana’s lawsuit claims that the platform supports an environment conducive to child predators. Additionally, Kentucky has filed a similar suit, and Florida’s Attorney General has issued subpoenas to Roblox regarding these allegations. Various families and individual players have also pursued lawsuits against the platform citing similar concerns.
In response, Eric Porterfield, Senior Director of Policy Communications at Roblox, expressed disappointment over the lawsuit, suggesting that it relies on misrepresentations. He emphasized the company’s introduction of over 145 safety measures in the past year.
Roblox reported that it currently has over 111 million daily active users, a significant portion of whom are children. The company plans to implement age verification through IDs and facial scans and is developing an AI system aimed at identifying potential risks to children on the platform. This move aligns with changes seen in other social media platforms that have also begun implementing safety measures in light of similar concerns. However, legal precedents may enable platforms like Roblox to defend against liability claims based on user actions.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/816549/texas-roblox-lawsuit-child-safety