Louisiana Sues Roblox Over Child Exploitation Claims

By Rebekah Wright

On Aug. 14, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced the state would be filing a lawsuit against Roblox Corporation. Roblox is an online gaming platform advertised primarily to children, with an estimated 31.1 million users interacting with their countless gaming styles. With claims of child exploitation, questions are being raised about the effectiveness of Roblox’s safety measures and what the future of the company holds. 

The lawsuit contains 42 pages of accusations against Roblox, with over 120 statements written about Roblox’s platform and potential wrongdoings. Several points include important information regarding the game’s rapid growth and ease of signing up, whereas the rest of the points allege claims of severe endangerment. For example, Point 38 includes Roblox’s past statements where the company said discriminatory behavior is prohibited, which Louisiana juxtaposes with several users’ avatars holding Nazi flags. 

In addition, games such as “Escape to Epstein Island” allow anyone to access the game. Points like these are raising many parents’ eyebrows about the true safety of a game widely advertised to younger children. 

Roblox responded on its website on Aug. 15, wishing not to comment on any claims made other than reemphasizing previous safety measures already in place. Several bullet points about how parents can be involved with their child’s use and their moderation team were posted by the corporation, as Roblox intends to refute some of the lawsuit’s accusations. 

Some concerns have arisen regarding the moderation team, as Roblox has publicly indicated that its site is partially AI-moderated. Thus, while some feel safer knowing a computer system is in place, some are scared that AI could be missing select serious issues. 

Despite the defense on Roblox’s behalf, many are curious to see what Roblox’s future looks like. Due to the lawsuit being filed on Aug. 15, there is no clear timeline for the future of the case. Regardless of the lawsuit’s timeline, Louisiana sets a clear precedent that gaming platforms need to be aware of their potential flaws, or legal action could be taken.