The wildly popular online game Roblox is facing a new criminal investigation in Florida, where the state\u2019s attorney general accused the platform of being a \u201cbreeding ground for child predators.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roblox has failed to properly protect kids from sexual predators and is not making enough effort to verify user ages, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said Monday, citing a civil probe from April.<\/p>\n
\u201cRoblox is a breeding ground for child predators to get on the platform, solicit information, locations, and ultimately abuse kids. That\u2019s a non-starter here in Florida,\u201d the prosecutor told Fox News\u2019 \u201cFox & Friends.\u201d<\/p>\n
Uthmeier alleged a civil probe from April found the platform has failed to properly protect kids from sexual predators. FOX News<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will go after child predators with everything we\u2019ve got, and we\u2019re gonna hold Roblox accountable. We believe that they have knowingly allowed their platform to be used in this way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roblox did not immediately respond to The Post\u2019s request for comment.<\/p>\n
About 40 million players \u2014 more than a third of Roblox\u2019s user base \u2014 are under age 13.<\/p>\n
While the world-building video game is aimed at children, with users as young as 8 or 9, it also caters to adults \u2014 who can use the private chat and voice conversation features to speak with child players.<\/p>\n
Several previous investigations have uncovered predators for using Roblox to groom minors. Adults have been able to imitate children on the platform, and content moderation efforts have failed to detect sexually explicit material, according to the Florida attorney general\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
Roblox insists it is safe for young users.<\/p>\n
In July, it launched a face-scanning feature to help verify users\u2019 ages. But it can be circumvented by playing on another person\u2019s account, according to safety experts.<\/p>\n
While the platform is aimed at children, with users as young as 8 or 9, it also caters to adults, who can speak with child players. SOPA Images\/LightRocket via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Some predators have even used the platform\u2019s in-game currency \u2013 known as \u201cRobux\u201d \u2013 to bribe minors into sending sexually explicit images of themselves, Uthmeier\u2019s office said.<\/p>\n
Louisiana\u2019s Attorney General Liz Murrill sued Roblox in August \u2013 calling it \u201cthe perfect place for pedophiles.\u201d<\/p>\n