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LA County sues Roblox, alleging it's a ‘breeding ground for predators’
A sign in screen for Roblox.
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Oberon Copeland via Unsplash
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Topline:
Los Angeles County says it’s filed a lawsuit against Roblox, the online gaming platform popular with children.
The complaint alleges the online environment has become a breeding ground for predators, among other claims.
What is Roblox? Roblox is a popular virtual world where players can make their own games and share them with other users. It markets to children and there are reportedly millions of users under the age of 13, according to the county.
The allegations: The lawsuit alleges that children in L.A. County have been “repeatedly exposed” to sexually explicit content and grooming on the platform. The complaint also claims that the company failed to put in place “effective moderation or age-verification systems.”
“This lawsuit highlights what happens when big tech companies put profits over children’s safety,” Scott Kuhn, assistant county counsel, told LAist.
Roblox response: In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for Roblox said they “strongly dispute the claims in this lawsuit and will defend against it vigorously.”
“We take swift action against anyone found to violate our safety rules and work closely with law enforcement to support investigations and help hold bad actors accountable,” the company added.
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