Attorney General Coleman sues Roblox, citing child predator problem

HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Attorney General Russell Coleman announced a lawsuit against Roblox—a popular gaming and social media platform with more than 380 million monthly users—for allegedly creating a hunting ground for child predators.

AG Colemans says since its launch in 2006, Roblox has “knowingly permitted” an online environment for exploitation, directly contributing to the “widespread victimization” of minor children in Kentucky.

Officials say Roblox is easily accessible, and children as young as six can create an account in a matter of minutes without the knowledge or consent of a parent. Nearly two-thirds of all kids in the United States between the ages of 9 to 12 play games on the Roblox platform. The company was valued at $41 billion when it went public in 2021.

AG Coleman’s complaint alleges Roblox:

• Created a playground for predators and international organizations with links to terrorist organizations to distribute child sexual abuse material
• Became a facilitator for predators to target and groom young victims online before escalating to real-world sexual violence
• Deliberately failed to implement effective safety measures to protect children from well-documented predatory threats
• Knowingly and intentionally failed to inform parents of the dangers lurking on the platform

“Our children are not safe on Roblox. Predators and criminals aren’t just lurking in the platform’s shadows; they’ve been allowed to commit their crimes out in the open,” said Attorney General Coleman. “For years, Roblox has ignored this crisis so it could continue turning a profit. Our responsibility is to protect Kentucky children from online exploitation by these predators and the companies like Roblox that knowingly facilitate it.”

AG Coleman says despite claims from Roblox of increased safety protocols, predators and bad actors are still on the platform.

AG Coleman cites media reports that “assassination simulators” began popping up on Roblox shortly after the assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. AG Coleman says children as young as five years old were able to access animated bloody depictions of the shooting. 

AG Coleman says earlier this year, a 25-year-old Kentucky man with ties to an extremist sextortion group called “764” pleaded guilty as part of a plot to groom, extort, threaten and even conspire to kill children as young as eight years old using various online platforms. The group 764 is known to utilize Roblox among other platforms for its sextortion schemes. 

AG Colemans’s complaint alleges violations of Kentucky’s Consumer Protection Act, unjust enrichment, negligence and a failure to warn parents and kids of the platform’s dangers. General Coleman asked the court to permanently block Roblox from continuing its unlawful conduct in Kentucky and to be penalized up to $2,000 for each willful violation, in addition to other applicable fines and penalties.

People can read the complaint below.

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