Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Roblox, alleging that the company has been neglecting safety laws and misleading parents about the risks the online gaming platform poses to minors. In his social media statement, Paxton accused Roblox of prioritizing profit over child safety and described it as a potential environment for predatory behavior.
Roblox operates a widely used platform where millions of users engage in gameplay, some alone and some with friends. While marketed towards families, with educational offerings including games that promote coding and problem-solving, the platform also has features that allow players to create their own games. This capability has led to the emergence of some inappropriate content, including violence and sexual themes. Additionally, the platform’s user interaction features have drawn criticism for possibly exposing young users to unsafe individuals online.
Concerns have been voiced by both parents and users regarding exposure to disturbing content and experiences of abuse on Roblox. In his statements, Paxton urged the company to implement more robust protective measures for children. He emphasized that corporations that enable child exploitation will face legal consequences.
Roblox has responded to the lawsuit, expressing disappointment and characterizing the claims as exaggerated. A spokesman stated that the company shares the goal of ensuring online safety for children and has taken measures to mitigate risks, such as enhancing age verification protocols and preventing under-13 users from messaging without parental consent.
Texas’s legal action adds to similar lawsuits from Kentucky and Louisiana concerning online safety on the platform. Roblox has faced scrutiny in other regions as well, with bans in some countries over child safety concerns and incidents reported, such as a Singapore case involving a teenager’s involvement in extremist online activities through Roblox.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy0kd4kk0kqo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss