U.S. Senate Launches Investigation into Roblox Amid Concerns for Child Safety

U.S. Senators Josh Hawley and Dick Durbin are launching a congressional investigation into Roblox due to allegations of sexual abuse occurring on the platform. This bipartisan initiative is spearheaded by the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism. The senators addressed a letter to Roblox founder and CEO David Baszucki, expressing concerns about explicit content in the game and its links to real-world child abuse.

“You promote Roblox as a safe digital playground for children as young as five. However, the public record raises significant doubts about this claim of safety,” the letter states. “Over the last decade, law enforcement has arrested numerous individuals for committing serious acts of violence and harm against children they encountered through Roblox, including grooming, sexual abuse, kidnapping, rape, and even murder.”

The letter further details, “Roblox is being exploited to trade child sexual abuse material, engage in sexually explicit (and often violent) virtual ‘experiences’ with children, coerce and extort children into producing explicit content, and entice children into in-person meetings. It is heartbreaking. In 2025, Roblox reported 65,381 instances of suspected child sexual exploitation to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children—more than double the number reported in 2024.”

“Roblox seems to prioritize revenue and engagement metrics over the safety and well-being of our children, and the alleged criminal activities on the platform warrant congressional investigation.” The letter concludes with a strong message: “Let us be clear: children on your platform are in danger. Congress will not turn a blind eye. We await your prompt and thorough response.”

This isn’t the first time Roblox has faced public scrutiny. A lawsuit filed on April 21, 2025, by a Florida teenager accused Roblox and Discord of facilitating sexual abuse and exploitation. Her legal team referenced reports detailing multiple instances of alleged exploitation on the platform, including a case where the FBI arrested a former Roblox player for grooming a 15-year-old girl.

Previously, Nevada reached a $12 million settlement with Roblox, mandating the studio to enhance in-game protections for youth. In early 2025, it was reported that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission was investigating the company. Additionally, Louisiana filed a lawsuit against Roblox for creating an environment where “child predators thrive.”

In response to these issues, Roblox Corporation has made efforts to modify its game, including restrictions on avatar customization, which has been misused to create inappropriate content. In late 2025, Roblox implemented a controversial requirement for players to upload a selfie and undergo an ID check to verify their age.

State AG states that Roblox ‘prioritizes user growth, revenue, and profits over child safety.’