Roblox has become the subject of a congressional investigation announced by US Senators Josh Hawley and Dick Durbin, who claim the platform poses a threat to child safety. The senators detailed their concerns in an open letter, stating that despite Roblox's promotion as a safe environment for young children, the public record indicates significant risks.
According to the senators' letter, the past decade has seen numerous arrests of individuals for serious offenses against children they met on Roblox, including grooming, sexual abuse, kidnapping, rape, and murder. The platform is also alleged to be used for trading child sexual abuse material, engaging in sexually explicit and violent virtual experiences with children, and extorting children into producing explicit content. Furthermore, it is reportedly used to lure children into in-person meetings.
"Roblox appears to prioritize revenue and engagement metrics over the safety and well-being of our children, and the alleged criminal activity on Roblox warrants congressional scrutiny," the senators wrote. "Let us be clear: children on your platform are hurting. Congress will not look the other way."
Roblox reported 65,381 instances of suspected child sexual exploitation to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in 2025, more than doubling the number reported in 2024. The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism is leading the investigation. Roblox Corporation has been instructed to preserve its records and submit specific documents by August 31. The investigation will also require Roblox CEO David Baszucki to provide details on the company's plans for self-policing.
Roblox's chief safety officer, Matt Kaufman, stated in response, "Roblox is built on the foundation of safety. We do not compromise on that commitment. We look forward to sharing the facts about how we protect children on the platform."
This congressional inquiry follows a series of recent scrutinies of the platform. Australian lawmakers have also investigated Roblox regarding reports of grooming and sexual content. The Attorney General of Florida has described it as a breeding ground for predators, and the Attorney General of Texas filed a lawsuit against The Roblox Corporation over child exploitation accusations. Earlier this year, Roblox Corporation agreed to pay over $12 million to the state of Nevada to enhance user safety, though other regions, like the United Kingdom, have proposed more drastic measures to protect children online.