Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced yesterday (Tuesday) that she has filed a lawsuit against an online gaming company, Roblox, alleging it failed to protect children from sexual exploitation and did not adequately warn parents about dangers on its platform. Roblox is one of the most popular online games in the country, with more than 80 million daily users, many of them children. The platform markets itself as the top gaming site for kids, and an estimated two-thirds of U.S. children aged nine to 12 years old have Roblox accounts, according to the attorney general’s office. The lawsuit alleges Roblox failed to implement basic safety controls, facilitated the distribution of child sexual abuse material, and concealed known risks from Iowa parents while allowing predatory behavior to continue for years. The company has publicly assured parents that its platform is safe for children, but the suit claims otherwise. Bird says, “We will fight for our children. Roblox created a breeding ground for sexual predators, and Iowa’s children are paying the price. Roblox must either make their game a safe place for children or stop doing business in our state. Parents must be told the truth so they can protect their children online from inappropriate material, grooming, exploitation, and other predatory practices.” The lawsuit seeks to hold the company accountable and force stronger protections. The full petition is available below.
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