Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced a lawsuit Thursday against Roblox, alleging the online gaming platform failed to protect children from predators while misleading parents about safety protections.
The lawsuit claims the company’s practices put young users at risk, including children in Oklahoma.
Key Takeaways
- Oklahoma has filed a lawsuit against Roblox over child safety allegations
- State officials allege Roblox misled parents about online safety protections
- Roblox says the lawsuit ignores recent safety measures and mischaracterizes the platform
- The case could lead to penalties or court-ordered operational changes
What the lawsuit alleges
According to the attorney general’s office, Roblox allowed children as young as 5 to create accounts without parental knowledge and communicate with strangers through the platform. The complaint also alleges adults were able to pose as children by creating multiple accounts, allowing banned users to return.
Drummond said in a release that Roblox “marketed itself as a safe place for children” while failing to adequately protect minors.
Key allegations include:
- Children under 13 allegedly creating accounts without parental awareness
- Adults allegedly impersonating minors on the platform
- Claims that safety changes were deprioritized to maintain engagement and revenue
- Alleged violations of the Oklahoma Consumer Protection Act
Roblox responds to lawsuit
Roblox pushed back on the allegations, saying the lawsuit “fundamentally misrepresents how Roblox works” and overlooks what the company described as industry-leading safety measures.
Matt Kaufman, Roblox’s chief safety officer, said the platform uses AI-powered detection tools, human moderation and chat filters designed to block personal information sharing. The company also said it does not allow users to exchange images or videos in chat.
Roblox said it recently began requiring age verification for chat access and plans to launch age-based account restrictions in June that would place younger users in a more limited online environment.
Legal action and what comes next
The lawsuit seeks civil penalties, a permanent injunction and other relief under Oklahoma law. Roblox said it shares the attorney general’s commitment to child safety and is prepared to work with the state on the issue.
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