Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued criminal subpoenas to the popular online gaming platform Roblox.
The subpoenas will investigate whether Roblox’s actions, or lack thereof, are aiding predators in accessing and harming children.
“Platforms like Roblox have become breeding grounds for predators to gain access to our kids,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “We will stop at nothing in the fight to protect Florida’s children, and companies that expose them to harm will be held accountable.”
According to the Florida AG, multiple investigations have revealed that sexual predators are using Roblox to access, communicate with, and groom minors. Troubling allegations against the gaming platform include negligence in adequately verifying users’ ages and failures in content moderation that have allowed sexually explicit material to evade filters and circulate within the platform. Reports also suggest that predators are utilizing the platform’s in-game currency, “Robux,” to bribe minors into sending sexually explicit images of themselves.
Victims have accused Roblox of knowingly failing to implement meaningful safety measures or provide adequate warnings to parents about the dangers their children face, while publicly maintaining that the platform is safe for young users, the Florida AG also noted. Further reports indicate that Roblox has knowingly failed to report incidents of child victimization to the proper authorities.
To view the subpoena, check here.
