Highlights
- L.A. County is suing Roblox over allegations of child exploitation and grooming.
- The lawsuit labels Roblox a "breeding ground for predators" that ignores minor safety.
- Roblox faces massive civil penalties as legal pressure over child safety escalates.
Los Angeles County sued Roblox Corp. on Thursday, filing an 82-page civil complaint in L.A. Superior Court that accuses the children's gaming platform of deceiving parents and putting corporate profits ahead of child safety.
The lawsuit, filed by County Counsel Dawyn R. Harrison on behalf of the People of the State of California, alleges that Roblox operates "an unsafe online environment that has become a breeding ground for predators" where grooming and exploitation persist despite the company's family-friendly marketing. County officials say the platform's design flaws make children "easy prey" for abusers.
Harrison condemned the company in stark terms, arguing that Roblox knowingly exposes millions of young users to sexual content and registered sex offenders without adequate warnings. The complaint details disturbing examples of these failures, including an instance where a 7-year-old girl's avatar was sexually assaulted within a game.
"The trauma that results is horrific, from grooming to exploitation to actual assault," Harrison said. "This needs to stop."
The stakes are considerable. Roblox reports nearly 400 million monthly active users, with more than 40% under the age of 13. The company's own data shows that nearly 75% of all U.S. children between ages 9 and 12 play regularly, meaning hundreds of thousands of minors in L.A. County alone are potentially at risk.
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Roblox Faces Mounting State Lawsuits Over Child Exploitation
The lawsuit demands injunctive relief and civil penalties under California's consumer protection laws — up to $2,500 per day for each individual violation, as reported by Deadline.
L.A. County's filing is the latest in a growing wave of litigation against the company. In August 2025, Louisiana sued Roblox, with Attorney General Liz Murrill calling it a "perfect place for pedophiles." Kentucky followed in October, then Texas in November. Georgia and Florida have also taken action. Separately, nearly 80 individual lawsuits from families alleging child exploitation have been centralized in a federal multidistrict litigation in San Francisco.
Roblox executives have previously argued that many of the claims are based on events from five years ago. L.A. officials say the danger is present and ongoing.
Roblox disputes child safety allegations, points to new safeguards
Roblox has pushed back against the allegations. In a statement issued to Fox 11 Los Angeles, the company said it would defend itself vigorously, calling the platform "built with safety at its core." Roblox pointed to safeguards including facial age-estimation technology and the inability to send images via chat — a restriction it says prevents a common method of online misuse.
"There is no finish line when it comes to protecting kids," the company said, adding that it cooperates with law enforcement and encouraging parents to use its online Safety Center.
