Roblox Lawsuit: LA County Accuses Platform of Child Exploitation Risks

Los Angeles County Sues Roblox, Alleging Platform Endangers Children

Los Angeles County has filed a lawsuit against online gaming platform Roblox, alleging the company has failed to adequately protect its young users from exploitation and inappropriate content. The suit, filed Thursday, February 19, 2026, claims Roblox knowingly maintains a platform that allows sexual abuse of children and fails to implement reasonable safety measures.

According to the complaint, Roblox does not carry out adequate moderation of user-generated content and its age-verification systems are not fit for purpose. The county alleges that the platform’s design “makes children easy prey for pedophiles.”

“This lawsuit is about protecting children from online predators and inappropriate content,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda Solis. “Roblox has a responsibility to keep kids safe, but instead it has allowed its platform to become a place where children can be exposed to grooming and exploitation.”

The lawsuit alleges violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law. County Counsel Dawyn R. Harrison stated, “Here’s not about a minor lapse in safety. We see about a company that gives pedophiles powerful tools to prey on innocent and unsuspecting children. The trauma that results is horrific, from grooming to exploitation to actual assault. This needs to stop.”

Roblox, which has approximately 144 million active daily users globally, with over 40 percent under the age of 13, disputes the allegations. A Roblox spokesperson said in a statement that the platform is built “with safety at its core” and features “advanced safeguards that monitor our platform for harmful content and communications.” The company also noted that users cannot send or receive images via chat, a feature intended to mitigate misuse.

The company stated it takes “swift action” against those violating its safety rules and collaborates with law enforcement to hold offenders accountable. “There is no finish line when it comes to protecting kids, and while no system can be perfect, our commitment to safety never ends,” the spokesperson added.

The lawsuit comes amid growing scrutiny of online platforms and their responsibility to protect children. A 2024 report by Hindenburg Research described Roblox as an “X-rated pedophile hellscape,” alleging exposure of children to grooming and pornography. Australia’s government is also seeking an urgent meeting with the company regarding child safety concerns.

The complaint details that Roblox has failed to adequately enforce age restrictions or disclose the extent of inappropriate material and risks posed by sexual predators. The suit is the latest in a series of efforts to hold online firms accountable for alleged exploitative practices, coinciding with a trial involving social media giants like Facebook, which are being sued over claims their algorithms target young teenagers.