Iowa Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Roblox for Alleged Inadequate Child Safety Measures on Gaming Platform

Attorney General Brenna Bird has taken a significant step by suing the online gaming giant Roblox. The lawsuit claims that Roblox has failed to implement essential measures to safeguard Iowa’s children from sexual exploitation. It also alleges that the platform has facilitated the distribution of child sex abuse material and neglected to inform Iowa parents about the ongoing risks their children face while using Roblox.

The lawsuit, filed in the Iowa District Court for Polk County, asserts that Roblox has not established basic safety controls. Furthermore, it accuses the company of intentionally hiding from Iowa parents the dangers associated with its platform, which has reportedly allowed child exploitation, pornography, and extortion to persist for years.

Roblox stands as one of the most popular gaming platforms in the United States, boasting over 80 million daily users. A significant portion of these users are children under the age of 18, particularly in Iowa. According to the lawsuit, Roblox markets itself as the “#1 gaming site for kids and teens,” with as many as two-thirds of U.S. children aged 9 to 12 holding accounts on the platform.

“Roblox created a breeding ground for sexual predators, and Iowa’s children are paying the price,” Bird stated in a press release. “Roblox must either make their game a safe place for children or stop doing business in our state.”

The state of Iowa is pursuing various forms of restitution, including reimbursement, disgorgement, civil penalties, and other costs and fees allowed under the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act.

Topics
Lawsuits

Attorney General Brenna Bird has taken a significant step by suing the online gaming giant Roblox. The lawsuit claims that Roblox has failed to implement essential measures to safeguard Iowa’s children from sexual exploitation. It also alleges that the platform has facilitated the distribution of child sex abuse material and neglected to inform Iowa parents about the ongoing risks their children face while using Roblox.

The lawsuit, filed in the Iowa District Court for Polk County, asserts that Roblox has not established basic safety controls. Furthermore, it accuses the company of intentionally hiding from Iowa parents the dangers associated with its platform, which has reportedly allowed child exploitation, pornography, and extortion to persist for years.

Roblox stands as one of the most popular gaming platforms in the United States, boasting over 80 million daily users. A significant portion of these users are children under the age of 18, particularly in Iowa. According to the lawsuit, Roblox markets itself as the “#1 gaming site for kids and teens,” with as many as two-thirds of U.S. children aged 9 to 12 holding accounts on the platform.

“Roblox created a breeding ground for sexual predators, and Iowa’s children are paying the price,” Bird stated in a press release. “Roblox must either make their game a safe place for children or stop doing business in our state.”

The state of Iowa is pursuing various forms of restitution, including reimbursement, disgorgement, civil penalties, and other costs and fees allowed under the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act.

Topics
Lawsuits