Louisiana Lawsuit Alleges Roblox Violated Deception, Child Privacy Laws
Roblox facilitates the distribution of child sexual abuse material and is in potential violation of federal child privacy statutes, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill (R) said in a lawsuit filed Thursday.
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Murrill, in a lawsuit filed with Louisiana's 21st Judicial District Court, alleged violations of the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices Act, deceptive claims about the company’s safety features and a refusal to implement “simple measures” to verify children’s ages.
“Due to Roblox’s lack of safety protocols, it endangers the safety of the children of Louisiana,” she said in a statement. “Roblox is overrun with harmful content and child predators because it prioritizes user growth, revenue, and profits over child safety.”
The lawsuit notes that the FTC-enforced Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act prohibits companies from collecting, using or sharing personal information of children younger than 13 without verifiable parental consent. States can bring civil action under COPPA.
Roblox could have “required children under 13 to provide their names and email addresses and obtain parental approval -- a fundamental protection against predators -- but refused to do so,” she said. Murrill outlined what the FTC considers “clear and acceptable methods for obtaining verifiable parental consent.”
Roblox didn’t immediately comment.