Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has announced that the state will file a lawsuit against the online gaming giant Roblox, alleging deceptive and unfair business practices related to child safety.

This lawsuit, which aligns Tennessee with Louisiana, Florida, Kentucky, and Iowa, targets the platform’s failure to adequately protect its young users.In the complaint, filed by Skrmetti, the state claims that Roblox has created an environment that not only attracts children but also neglects to provide essential safety measures.

The lawsuit asserts that Roblox “lures children into an environment it knows is dangerous but promises is safe,” thus violating the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act. The Lawsuit alleges over half of Roblox’s users are under the age of 17, with 40% being under 13 and approximately 20% under nine. These statistics underline that children are not just peripheral users; they are central to the platform’s growth.

They also state for nearly two decades, the platform has allowed users to create accounts and communicate without meaningful age verification. The lawsuit argues that the company only recently implemented such measures, which Tennessee believes could have been adopted much earlier.

“Roblox has built and maintained a platform that fails to implement basic protections for children,” Skrmetti stated, emphasizing the need for accountability in safeguarding young users.

In response to the lawsuit, Roblox’s Chief Safety Officer, Natt Kaufman, expressed strong disagreement, stating, “This lawsuit fundamentally misrepresents Roblox and how it works.” Kaufman emphasized the company’s commitment to safety, noting ongoing efforts to enhance user protection, including the rollout of additional measures to limit who users can chat with.

As states increasingly scrutinize online platforms for their safety practices, this lawsuit against Roblox marks a significant step in addressing the potential risks associated with children’s online interactions. The outcome of this legal challenge could have broader implications for the gaming industry and its responsibility toward young users.

Amidst rising concerns about child safety in digital spaces, the developments in this case should be closely monitored by parents, lawmakers, and industry leaders alike.