Similar to several other pending claims against Roblox, the attorney general’s lawsuit alleges that Roblox serves as a “first point of contact for predators,” who often push intended victims to take their conversations to other, less-moderated applications.
Texas has filed a lawsuit against Roblox, claiming that the company “flagrantly” ignores state safety laws and deceives parents about the dangers of letting children use the gaming platform unattended.
According to the BBC, in a social media post, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton accused Roblox of acting as a “Breeding ground for predators.” In the post, Paxton said that Roblox’s leadership prioritizes “pixel pedophiles and corporate profit” over the safety of Texas children.
“We cannot allow platforms like Roblox to continue operating as digital playgrounds for predators where the well-being of our kids is sacrificed on the altar of corporate greed,” Paxton said in a press release. “Roblox must do more to protect kids from sick and twisted freaks hiding behind a screen. Any corporation that enables child abuse will face the full and unrelenting force of the law.”
The lawsuit states that Roblox, as a company, knows that most of its users are children—but, despite assuring the public that it has taken “every precaution possible” to keep young user safe, has “failed to implement basic safety controls … and it has intentionally concealed the substantial dangers that Roblox presents, ultimately causing severe harm and damage.”
Similar to several other pending claims against Roblox, the attorney general’s lawsuit alleges that Roblox serves as a “first point of contact for predators,” who often push intended victims to take their conversations to other, less-moderated applications.
“At the outset, children are trusting and naïve, and they often do not recognize that many avatars are really adults, especially when those adults can easily approach them and lie about their age,” the lawsuit states. It contains a variety of other complaints, including allegations that the sales of virtual Roblox merchandise facilitates the exploitation of children willing to do “Anything for Robux.”
Paxton also claims that Roblox was designed to be “addictive” for children.
In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for Roblox said that, while the company shares the state’s enthusiasm for child safety, it disagrees with the attorney general’s decision to file suit.
“We are disappointed that, rather than working collaboratively with Roblox on this industry-wide challenge and seeking real solutions, the AG has chosen to file a lawsuit based on misrepresentations and sensationalized claims,” a Roblox spokesperson said in a statement.
The Texas Tribune notes that, in 2023, lawmakers strengthened statutes requiring social media platforms to protect children from inappropriate content online. However, these provisions have since been challenged, with parts of the new laws having been blocked for being unconstitutionally vague.
Sources
Texas sues Roblox for ‘putting paedophiles and profits’ over safety
Texas sues Roblox, alleging the online gaming platform endangers children
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