U.S. Senators Josh Hawley and Dick Durbin have initiated a congressional investigation into Roblox, prompted by allegations of child exploitation and the presence of explicit content on the platform. The inquiry, a bipartisan effort led by the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, sent a letter to Roblox founder and CEO David Baszucki expressing serious questions about the platform's promised safety.
The senators' letter highlights that police have investigated numerous cases involving individuals who met children via Roblox, leading to arrests for grooming, sexual abuse, kidnapping, rape, and murder. The letter states that Roblox is allegedly being used for trading child sexual abuse material, engaging in explicit virtual experiences with minors, bribing and extorting children for explicit content, and luring them into in-person meetings.
According to the letter, Roblox reported 65,381 instances of suspected child sexual exploitation to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in 2025, a figure more than double that reported in 2024. The senators contend that Roblox appears to prioritize revenue and engagement metrics over child safety and well-being, asserting that the alleged criminal activity warrants congressional scrutiny. "Let us be clear: children on your platform are hurting. Congress will not look the other way," the letter concludes, demanding a prompt response from Roblox.
This investigation is not the first time Roblox has faced public scrutiny regarding these issues. A lawsuit filed in April 2025 by a Florida teenager against Roblox and Discord alleged that the platforms enabled sexual abuse and exploitation. Lawyers for the teenager cited reporting detailing multiple instances of alleged exploitation, including an FBI arrest of a former Roblox player for grooming a 15-year-old girl.
Previously, Nevada reached a $12 million settlement with Roblox, mandating increased in-game youth protections. In early 2025, reports indicated that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission was also investigating the company. Louisiana also filed a lawsuit against Roblox, alleging the platform facilitates child predators.
In response to these concerns, Roblox Corporation has implemented changes. These include limiting avatar customization options, which were sometimes used to create inappropriate images. In late 2025, the company introduced a controversial age verification process requiring players to upload a selfie and perform an ID check.