In a new letter from John Hawley, Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, the Senate accuses Roblox of prioritizing “revenue and engagement metrics over the safety and well-being of our children,” stating that alleged criminal activity that on Roblox “warrants congressional scrutiny.” It cites Roblox’s own metrics that claim the company reported 65,381 instances of suspected child sexual exploitation in 2025—ranging from kidnapping and sexual assault to bribery and extortion with the goal of pressuring underage individuals into producing explicit materials—more than double what the company reported the prior year. The US Senate has given Roblox until August 31, 2026, to respond to the allegations and submit reuested documentation.
The United States Senate’s letter to Roblox CEO, David Baszucki, reads as follows:
Mr. Baszucki:
We write to inform you that the Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism has
opened an investigation into child safety on the Roblox gaming platform.You trumpet Roblox as a safe digital playground for children as young as five. But the public record raises serious
questions about this promise of safety. Over the past decade, police have arrested numerous individuals for committing serious acts of violence and harm against children they met via Roblox, including grooming, sexual abuse, kidnapping, rape, and even murder. Roblox is being used to trade child sexual abuse material, participate in sexually explicit (and often violent) virtual “experiences” with children, bribe and extort children into producing explicit content, and lure children into in-person meetings. It is heartbreaking. In 2025, Roblox reported 65,381 instances of suspected child sexual exploitation to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children—more than double what it reported in 2024. Roblox appears to prioritize revenue and engagement metrics over the safety and well-being of our children, and the alleged criminal activity on Roblox warrants congressional scrutiny. Accordingly, be advised that Roblox is hereby directed to preserve all records, in any format and wherever located, in connection with child safety, child sexual or physical abuse, child bullying, or child financial exploitation. We also attach an annex containing document requests and interrogatories. Please produce all documents and information specified in the annex no later than August 31, 2026.Let us be clear: children on your platform are hurting. Congress will not look the other way. We await your prompt
and complete response.
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