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Photo: Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird by Gage Skidmore; via Wikipedia.
Earlier today, the Des Moines Register reported that Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird has filed a lawsuit against Roblox, alleging the online gaming platform has failed to implement adequate safeguards to protect children from sexual exploitation. The lawsuit argues that Roblox’s design and safety controls allow predators to access and groom minors, including children in Iowa.
Roblox reports more than 151 million daily active users worldwide, many of whom are under 18. The company promotes itself as a leading gaming platform for children and teens, allowing users to create games, interact socially, and communicate with other players. According to the Iowa Attorney General’s office, as many as two-thirds of U.S. children ages 9 to 12 have Roblox accounts.
The lawsuit alleges that Roblox has not done enough to strengthen age verification, parental oversight, and communication controls, despite years of public reporting and complaints about child safety failures.
Prior Iowa Lawsuit Involved Alleged Kidnapping and Sexual Assault
The state’s action follows a separate civil lawsuit filed in July 2025 by the family of a West Des Moines girl who allegedly met an adult man through Roblox. According to court filings, the 13-year-old was kidnapped from a family member’s home and driven to Jefferson County, Tennessee, where she was repeatedly sexually assaulted. The lawsuit alleges the man contacted the girl through Roblox after posing as a minor and that the platform failed to prevent or detect the interaction.
“We will fight for our children. Roblox created a breeding ground for sexual predators, and Iowa’s children are paying the price,” Attorney General Bird said in a statement announcing the lawsuit.
Petition Seeks Stronger Parental Controls and Verification
Iowa’s petition asks the court to order Roblox to implement stronger safety protections, including improved parental controls, clearer visibility into child communications, and mechanisms to prevent adults from accessing child focused spaces. The lawsuit also seeks restitution and civil penalties of up to $40,000 per violation under Iowa law. In extreme circumstances, the state is asking the court to consider barring Roblox from operating in Iowa if safety failures continue.
The petition cites reporting by Guardian journalist Sarah Martin, who conducted an investigation by creating test accounts on Roblox in November 2025. According to that reporting, when logged in as an 8-year-old, Martin encountered sexually explicit environments such as sex themed simulations and casinos, despite parental controls being enabled. When logged in as a 13-year-old, Martin reported that another player sexually assaulted her avatar.
The lawsuit further alleges that Roblox does not require verified identifying information such as names or dates of birth, allowing users to misrepresent their age or create multiple accounts. Even when parents enable safety settings, the state claims significant loopholes remain.
“Parents continue to lack visibility as to who their child is messaging and what the messages say, leaving unaddressed Roblox’s fundamental deficiency that facilitates grooming and predation on children,” the petition states.
Other States Taking Action Against Roblox
Iowa is not the only state to challenge Roblox’s child safety practices. In August 2025, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill filed a lawsuit against Roblox alleging deceptive practices and inadequate protections for minors. That lawsuit similarly claims Roblox failed to prevent adult users from accessing children and misled parents about the effectiveness of its safety tools.
In addition to Iowa and Louisiana, attorneys general in several other states, including Florida and Arkansas, have publicly confirmed that they are reviewing Roblox’s practices or conducting preliminary investigations into online child safety concerns. While not all have filed formal lawsuits, regulators have increasingly scrutinized how gaming platforms manage age verification, content moderation, and child protection.
These state actions parallel thousands of civil lawsuits filed by families across the country alleging Roblox failed to prevent grooming, sexual exploitation, and off platform abuse initiated through the game. Together, they reflect growing pressure on the company to overhaul how it protects young users.
Was Your Child Harmed Through Roblox?
To learn more about the growing litigation against Roblox and how families are pursuing accountability for alleged sexual exploitation, visit our Roblox lawsuit guide. If you are ready to explore your legal options, you can request a free, confidential case review by completing the secure form below.
