Roblox Faces U.S. Investigation Over Alleged Child Exploitation and Safety Failures

• Roblox Under State Investigation
• Risks to Minors Raise Alarm
• Greater Child Protection Demanded

The video game platform Roblox is once again under pressure in the United States.

The Connecticut Attorney General’s Office announced Tuesday a civil investigative demand against the company after receiving complaints related to exploitation and harm to minors on the platform, one of the most popular among children and teenagers.

Why it matters: The investigation adds to a growing wave of scrutiny against Roblox in several U.S. states, where authorities and organizations have warned about safety risks, possible cases of abuse, and mechanisms that could encourage addiction among minors.

Prosecutors Demand Data on Minors, Revenue, and Time Spent on Roblox

The Connecticut Attorney General’s Office said it is requesting detailed information from Roblox about the behavior of its users in the state.

Among the requested data are the ages of players, the revenue generated by those users, and the amount of time they spend connected to the platform.

Authorities are also seeking records related to journalistic investigations and public complaints about sensitive content inside the video game.

One of the cases that most concerns prosecutors is the existence of a game that allegedly recreates the Sandy Hook shooting, which occurred in 2012 in Connecticut, where 20 children and eight adults were killed at an elementary school.

In addition, the Attorney General’s Office requested information connected to the player known as “Schlep,” who calls himself a “predator hunter” and was later banned from the platform.

The investigation also seeks to clarify which experts or child safety entities Roblox consulted to design its protection systems and parental controls.

Authorities Question How Roblox Protects Minors

Another point under investigation is the operation of Robux, the virtual currency used inside the video game, and the measures implemented by the company to prevent possible misuse.

The pressure on Roblox is not new. Connecticut is now joining other states such as Texas, Florida, Nebraska, Louisiana, and Kentucky, where lawsuits or settlements related to child safety on digital platforms have also been filed.

At the same time, Roblox faces multiple lawsuits in the United States for allegedly failing to adequately protect minors and allowing dynamics that could create gaming dependency.

Attorney General William Tong issued sharp criticism of the technology company

“Roblox created a paradise for online pedophilia. Our investigation seeks to uncover exactly what the company knew about widespread child exploitation on its platform, how it profited, and what it has or has not done to protect our children,” Tong said.

The remarks reflect the level of concern among state authorities over the platform’s reach and the impact it can have on underage users.

Parents and Officials Warn About Risks for Children and Teenagers

State officials insisted that minors’ digital safety must become a priority for major technology companies.

State Representative David Rutigliano said families need to trust that the platforms their children use are safe spaces.

“Especially considering that 35% of Roblox users are under 13 and 38% are between 13 and 17,” the lawmaker said.

For his part, Bryan T. Cafferell, commissioner of the Department of Consumer Protection, said the platform “creates an environment” for “predators,” because a large share of its users are under 18.

The statements come amid a national debate over the responsibility of digital platforms and the limits of protection for children and teenagers online.

Prosecutors Pressure Congress for Stricter Laws to Protect Minors

William Tong also recalled that a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general sent a letter Tuesday to the federal Congress opposing the proposal known as the KIDS Act in the House of Representatives.

According to the prosecutors, that initiative would weaken states’ ability to protect minors online and could benefit large technology companies by reducing oversight mechanisms.

By contrast, the prosecutors backed the Senate version known as KOSA, the Kids Online Safety Act, which includes obligations for platforms to act in the best interests of minors and maintain stricter protection standards.

The official position was sent to both Democratic and Republican leaders in the U.S. Congress, as political and legal pressure continues to grow on technology companies focused on child audiences.

How Parents Can Protect Children and Teenagers on Roblox

Activate parental controls: Roblox allows users to limit chats, content, and friend requests from the account settings.

Supervise playtime: Experts recommend setting clear schedules to prevent excessive use or dependence on the platform.

Review the games they use: Not every world inside Roblox is appropriate for minors, so it is important to check which experiences they are visiting.

Talk about digital safety: Parents should remind children and teenagers never to share personal information with strangers inside the game.

Keep conversations open: Regularly asking who they play with and what happens inside the platform can help detect risky situations.

Report suspicious behavior: Roblox has tools to report users, messages, or inappropriate content.

Update privacy settings: It is recommended to limit who can send messages, invitations, or interact with minors inside the video game.

Pay attention to Robux purchases: Supervising expenses and transactions helps prevent possible fraud or impulsive purchases inside the platform.

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SOURCE: EFE