Roblox Lawsuit Explained: LA County Sues Over Child Safety Concerns

In a landmark legal action that has sent shockwaves through the gaming industry, Los Angeles County has filed a major lawsuit against Roblox Corporation, alleging the popular online gaming platform engages in unfair and deceptive business practices that endanger and exploit children. The lawsuit, filed on February 19, 2026, represents the first such action by a California governmental entity against Roblox for alleged child endangerment and exploitation, seeking civil penalties up to $2,500 per day for violations of California's Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law.

What is the Roblox Lawsuit About?

The Los Angeles County lawsuit alleges that Roblox, despite marketing itself as a safe digital space for creativity and play, has become a breeding ground for predators who expose children to sexually explicit content, exploitation, and grooming. The complaint specifically claims that Roblox knowingly maintains a platform that makes children "easy prey for pedophiles" and has failed to implement reasonable safety measures like effective age verification or meaningful parental controls. "Roblox presents its platform as a safe and suitable place for children to play," states the lawsuit. "In reality, and Roblox knows this very well, the design of the platform makes children easy prey for pedophiles."

Background: Roblox's Growing Safety Concerns

Roblox, founded in 2004 by David Baszucki and Erik Cassel, has grown into one of the world's most popular gaming platforms with over 151 million daily active users and 380 million monthly users. According to company statistics, approximately 40% of users are under age 13, making child safety a critical concern. The platform allows users to create and play games using its proprietary game engine, Roblox Studio, and has become particularly popular among younger audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic acceleration period.

Despite its popularity, Roblox has faced increasing scrutiny from regulators worldwide. The platform's user-generated content model, while fostering creativity, has created significant moderation challenges. Similar to concerns raised about social media platforms and child safety, Roblox's open environment has led to reports of inappropriate content and interactions that have alarmed parents and authorities globally.

Key Allegations in the LA County Lawsuit

The Los Angeles County complaint outlines several specific allegations against Roblox:

1. Inadequate Moderation Systems: The lawsuit claims Roblox fails to implement effective content moderation despite having over 151 million daily active users
2. Faulty Age Verification: Allegations that the platform's age verification systems don't work properly, allowing registered sex offenders to continue using the platform
3. Deceptive Marketing: Accusations that Roblox markets itself as safe for children while allegedly knowing about significant safety risks
4. Prioritizing Profits Over Safety: Claims that the company prioritizes corporate profits over child protection measures

Roblox's Response and Safety Initiatives

Roblox has strongly disputed the allegations, stating in a response to AFP that the platform is built "with safety as a core value." A company spokesperson emphasized: "We have advanced security measures that monitor our platform for harmful content and communication. Users cannot send or receive images via chat, which avoids one of the most common opportunities for abuse online."

In response to growing regulatory pressure, Roblox has implemented several safety initiatives in 2025-2026:

• Facial Age Verification: In January 2026, Roblox implemented mandatory facial age verification for chat access using Persona's technology
• Age-Restricted Chat: Users are placed into six age brackets (Under 9, 9-12, 13-15, 16-17, 18-20, 21+) with restricted communication between groups
• Parental Controls: Enhanced parental control features including account restrictions and communication filters
• Trusted Connections: Features allowing family members to bypass age restrictions for legitimate connections

International Regulatory Scrutiny

The Los Angeles lawsuit is not an isolated incident. Roblox faces mounting regulatory pressure globally:

Netherlands Investigation

In January 2026, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) launched an official investigation into whether Roblox sufficiently protects children under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA). The investigation, expected to last approximately 12 months, examines concerns about minors being exposed to violent/explicit content, unwanted interactions with strangers, and potentially exploitative in-game purchasing systems. If violations are found, the ACM may impose fines or binding instructions on the platform.

Previous Actions and Bans

Roblox has faced previous regulatory actions including:

• Turkey Block (2024): The platform was blocked in Turkey due to offensive content concerns
• Dutch Ministry Investigation (2025): The Dutch Ministry of the Interior announced an investigation into Roblox's safety risks and impact on children
• Multiple US Lawsuits: Similar lawsuits from Louisiana and nearly 80 other cases alleging Roblox facilitates child sexual exploitation

Impact and Implications for the Gaming Industry

The Roblox lawsuit represents a significant moment for the gaming industry, potentially setting new precedents for platform liability and child protection standards. As one of the first major legal actions by a governmental entity against a gaming platform for child safety issues, the case could influence how other platforms approach moderation and age verification. The outcome may also affect ongoing discussions about digital platform regulation and child protection in the United States and internationally.

For parents, the lawsuit highlights the importance of understanding platform safety features and actively monitoring children's online activities. Despite Roblox's safety improvements, concerns remain about potential workarounds, including reports of a black market for verified accounts selling for as little as $5 on platforms like eBay.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Roblox being sued for?

Los Angeles County is suing Roblox for alleged unfair and deceptive business practices that endanger children, claiming the platform fails to protect minors from sexual content and online predators despite marketing itself as safe.

How many children use Roblox?

Roblox has approximately 151 million daily active users, with about 40% (roughly 60 million) under age 13. The platform reports that half of all American children under 16 use Roblox monthly.

What safety features does Roblox have?

Roblox has implemented facial age verification, age-restricted chat groups, parental controls, communication filters, and automatic stricter settings for users under 13. However, regulators question their effectiveness.

Is Roblox banned in any countries?

Yes, Roblox has been blocked or restricted in several countries including Turkey (2024), China, Russia, and Iraq due to content concerns and regulatory issues.

What could happen if Roblox loses the lawsuit?

If found liable, Roblox could face civil penalties up to $2,500 per violation per day, mandatory platform changes, increased regulatory oversight, and potentially similar actions in other jurisdictions.

Sources

Los Angeles County Lawsuit Announcement
USA Today Coverage
ACM Investigation Announcement
Roblox Safety Initiative Announcement