Los Angeles County sues Roblox over alleged child safety failures, Roblox denies claims

Los Angeles County has filed a lawsuit against Roblox, accusing the platform of unfair and deceptive business practices that allegedly put children at risk. According to the county’s official announcement, officials say kids have been “repeatedly exposed” to sexually explicit content, exploitation, and grooming, despite Roblox marketing itself as a safe space.

The county argues Roblox’s moderation and age verification systems don’t do enough, and that the platform’s design makes it easier for adults to target minors. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief, abatement, and civil penalties of up to $2,500 per day for each violation of law.

In the complaint, Los Angeles County claims Roblox’s “design choices” and “false and misleading representations” have created an ecosystem where predators can allegedly pose as children, build trust over time, and groom young users through repeated interactions.

Roblox, for its part, says it “strongly” disputes the allegations and plans to fight the lawsuit. In a statement to press, the company said it’s continuing to strengthen protections and pointed to safeguards that monitor for harmful content and communications. Roblox also noted that users can’t send or receive images via chat, which it says cuts off a common avenue for abuse on other platforms.

The legal action lands amid broader scrutiny of Roblox’s child safety practices. The source notes that the Australian government recently called on Roblox to respond to what it described as “untenable” concerns around the exploitation of children on the service.