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Roblox is facing a scathing lawsuit from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who accuses the online video gaming platform of "flagrantly ignoring" safety laws and "deceiving parents" about the significant dangers it poses to young users. Paxton, in a social media post, branded Roblox a "breeding ground for predators," asserting the company places "pixel paedophiles and corporate profit" above the safety of Texas children. The lawsuit intensifies existing legal scrutiny over online safety and internet predators for the gaming giant, which boasts tens of millions of daily active users.
Roblox said it is "disappointed" that it is being sued based on "misrepresentations and sensationalised claims". The company's spokesperson said in a statement that it shares Paxton's commitment to keeping children safe online and that it has introduced measures to remove bad actors and protect its users.
Roblox, which is especially popular with children, operates a massive online platform where users can play solo or with friends. The platform has been marketed to families and offers a host of educational games that teach subjects including coding, physics and problem-solving.
Users are also offered developer tools to build their own games - a feature that has resulted in some violent and sexual content surfacing on Roblox. Another feature that allows users to enter servers and interact with strangers online has also been criticised for potentially exposing young players to dangerous individuals.
Parents and children have raised concerns about Roblox, saying that they have seen distressing content or suffered abuse on the platform.
Paxton called on the company to do more to protect children 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," he said in a statement on X.
Texas joins the US states of Kentucky and Louisiana which have also sued Roblox over potential harms to children.
Roblox has introduced features in recent years to tighten age verification and safety for young players. The platform said it is rolling out technology to estimate a player's age using video selfies and other measures before they are allowed to communicate on Roblox.
Last year, Roblox also announced it will block under-13s from messaging others on the platform unless a parent or guardian grants permission.
Roblox has been banned in some countries, including Turkey over concerns about child exploitation.
