Roblox is sued by Los Angeles for lack of protection of minors

In a complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, the county alleged that the company does not adequately moderate its content and that its age verification systems are not fit for purpose.

The legal action occurs just as a trial against social media giants, such as Facebook, is also progressing in Los Angeles, sued for considering that their algorithms have the purpose of causing addiction, especially in adolescents.

“This lawsuit is about protecting children from online predators and inappropriate content,” said Hilda Solis, chairwoman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

“Roblox has a responsibility to keep children safe, but instead it has allowed its platform to become a place where minors may be exposed to sexual harassment and exploitation”.

Roblox claims that it has around 144 million daily active users worldwide, and that more than 40% of them are under 13 years old.

Users create, share and play various games and other experiences, chat with each other, and use customizable avatars.

The company has long faced accusations that it does not do enough to protect children from violent and sexual content.

A 2024 report by Hindenburg Research described it as an “Explicit Pedophile Paradise,” exposing children to sexual harassment and pornography.

This month the Australian government said it was seeking an urgent meeting with the company over child safety.

The lawsuit filed Thursday alleges that Roblox has failed to adequately moderate user-generated content, enforce age restrictions, and disclose the extent of inappropriate material and risks posed by sexual predators on the platform.

“This is not a small security breach. This is a company that gives pedophiles powerful tools to prey on innocent, unsuspecting children,” said Los Angeles County Attorney Dawyn R. Harrison.

In a statement to AFP, Roblox rejected the lawsuit’s allegations and said the platform was built “with security at its core.”

“We have advanced protection measures that monitor our platform for harmful content and communications,” a spokesperson said.

The company said it acts quickly against people who break its rules and works with law enforcement to hold them accountable.