Kentucky Lawsuit Accuses Roblox of Failing to Safeguard Children Online

Published: October 8, 2025, 21:50 EDT

Kentucky Attorney General Alleges Roblox Fails to Shield Young Users

Kentucky’s attorney general has filed a lawsuit accusing Roblox Corporation of failing to protect children on its popular online gaming platform, which attracts millions of young players worldwide. The legal action claims that the company’s inadequate safety systems have created an environment where minors are vulnerable to exploitation.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in Franklin County Circuit Court, asserts that Roblox’s child safety measures are insufficient and misleading to parents who believe the platform is secure. It follows similar actions in Louisiana and Iowa, reflecting a growing nationwide concern over online child safety in digital gaming spaces.

State Officials Call Roblox a “Playground for Predators”

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman described Roblox as a “playground for predators” during a press briefing on Tuesday. He accused the company of failing to implement essential safeguards such as effective age verification tools, robust content filtering, and proactive parental notifications.

“The platform has become a place where predators seek to harm our children,” Coleman said, warning that Roblox’s child-friendly appearance conceals significant dangers. He emphasized that his office’s goal is to ensure the company strengthens protections rather than shut it down.

Parents Express Alarm Over Safety Risks

At the same news conference, Kentucky mother of three, Courtney Norris, shared her experience believing Roblox was a safe digital space for her children.

“I came to realize, later than I would like to admit, that it actually is the ‘Wild West’ of the internet,” Norris said. “It gives parents the illusion of safety while exposing children to risks that are hard to detect.”

Norris said many parents perceive Roblox as a “fenced-in backyard” for children’s gaming, unaware of the potential exposure to inappropriate interactions or content.

Rising Legal Pressure Against Roblox

The Kentucky complaint joins a growing number of lawsuits targeting Roblox’s safety protocols. In August, Louisiana filed a similar suit, and earlier this year, Iowa prosecutors sued after a 13-year-old girl allegedly met an adult predator through the platform and was subsequently kidnapped and trafficked across multiple states.

According to court filings reviewed by The Associated Press, the Kentucky suit argues that Roblox’s “cartoonish figures and experiences” attract children while masking systemic failures to prevent harmful contact or content exposure.

Roblox Defends Its Safety Systems

Roblox rejected the allegations, saying it employs “rigorous safety measures” and continuously upgrades protections for its users.

In a statement provided Tuesday, the company said, “We have rigorous safety measures in place, from advanced AI models to an expertly trained team of thousands moderating our platform 24/7 for inappropriate content. No system is perfect, and our work on safety is never done.”

The company said it had implemented “over 100 new safeguards” this year alone, including facial age estimation tools designed to prevent underage access to mature content.

Company Outlines Safety Features

Roblox said it enforces strict default protections for users under 13. These include restrictions on private messaging, chat filters that block inappropriate words and phrases, and systems designed to prevent the sharing of personal information or images.

The company stated that its platform prohibits sexual conversations and direct user-to-user image sharing, while also working to identify and remove attempts to lure children off the platform.

Despite these assurances, the Kentucky lawsuit contends that such measures are insufficient and inconsistently enforced.

Legal Claims and Requested Penalties

The lawsuit alleges that Roblox’s actions violate Kentucky’s Consumer Protection Act by misleading parents about the platform’s safety and failing to install adequate child protection controls.

State officials are seeking penalties of up to $2,000 per violation and a court order compelling the company to implement stronger safeguards. Coleman said his office is open to discussions with Roblox to reach a settlement that prioritizes children’s safety.

“Our goal is not to shut a platform down,” Coleman said. “Our goal is for Roblox to be safe.”

Broader Implications for Online Child Protection

The case underscores growing national scrutiny of tech companies over their responsibility to protect minors online. Lawmakers and advocacy groups have urged stricter oversight and transparent safety standards for gaming and social platforms that cater to young audiences.

Roblox, which reports 111 million daily active users, remains one of the largest online gaming ecosystems globally. The outcome of Kentucky’s lawsuit could set a precedent for how courts address child safety and consumer protection in virtual environments.