The state of Kentucky has initiated a lawsuit against Roblox, claiming that the gaming platform has failed to adequately protect children from child predators and exposing them to disturbing content—including simulations of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Filed on Monday by Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office, the lawsuit argues that Roblox, which has 111 million active monthly users, lacks the necessary protections to ensure child safety and has become a “playground” for predators to connect with potential victims, as reported by The Post.
The lawsuit claims that due to insufficient age verification processes, predators can easily create accounts on the widely used game and game creation system, posing as children to attract victims.
Prosecutors contend that the open nature of Roblox—which is utilized by about two-thirds of all U.S. children aged 9 to 12—has led to the distribution of graphic, violent, and sexual content to minors.
Referencing a recent incident, the lawsuit highlights a surge in “assassination simulator” games featuring Charlie Kirk, following the shooting of the Turning Point USA co-founder last month during an event at Utah Valley University.
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The lawsuit details that these simulations permitted “children as young as five years old access to animated depictions of the shooting with gory graphics,” emphasizing the urgent need for intervention.
“Roblox is structured to grant predators easy access to children and facilitates the grooming and luring of minors from virtual interactions to in-person encounters, resulting in harassment, kidnapping, trafficking, violence, and sexual assault among these vulnerable individuals—all consequences of the Defendants’
actions and failures,” the Attorney General asserted.
“For years, countless children have faced sexual exploitation and abuse by predators they encountered on Roblox,” the prosecutors claimed.
During a press conference with Coleman on Tuesday, Kentucky mother Courtney Norris recounted her previous assumption that Roblox was a safe gaming environment for her kids.
“I eventually came to a realization, albeit later than I’d prefer to admit, that it is essentially the ‘Wild West’ of the internet, targeted at our kids,” she noted.
Coleman insisted that the platform must enhance its age verification methods, content filters, and parental control measures during the press event.
The company has been facing mounting criticism in recent months.
Kentucky’s lawsuit follows similar legal action in Louisiana launched in August, as well as another pending lawsuit in Iowa involving a 13-year-old girl who was reportedly introduced to an adult predator on the platform, leading to her kidnapping, trafficking across state lines, and subsequent assault.
A North Carolina mother also sued the gaming giant in August, asserting the platform enabled a predator to exploit her young daughter.
The lawsuit alleged that the predator offered Robux in exchange for sexually explicit photographs of the minor, using Roblox’s virtual currency as an incentive for compliance.
Roblox has rebutted the claims that it serves as a refuge for predators.
“We implement stringent safety protocols, from advanced AI systems to a dedicated team of thousands monitoring our platform round-the-clock for inappropriate content,” the company asserted in a statement.
“No system can be flawless, and our commitment to safety is ongoing. We continuously improve our safety protocols, including introducing 100 new safeguards, such as facial age estimation, throughout this year alone.”
The company also explained that users under 13 cannot directly message other users outside of games or experiences, and cannot send direct messages during games unless parental controls are modified.
With contributions from Post wires.
