Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the online gaming platform Roblox, alleging that the company exposed children to sexually explicit content and exploitation. The legal action marks the latest in a series of lawsuits from Paxton’s office targeting major corporations over consumer safety and online protection issues.
Texas is the third state to pursue legal action against Roblox, following lawsuits in Kentucky and Louisiana. These suits claim that the platform has not implemented sufficient safeguards to protect minors from harmful material. In addition to state actions, dozens of private lawsuits have been filed over the past several months, with families alleging that children were subjected to sexual abuse, exploitation, or exposure to inappropriate content while using Roblox.
A recent development in related litigation occurred in California, where a judge ruled that a high-profile lawsuit against Roblox must proceed publicly. The company had sought to resolve the matter through private arbitration, but the court determined that the case should be handled in the public legal system.
Roblox has stated that it prioritizes the safety of children and teenagers on its platform and has implemented measures it describes as “industry-leading protocols” to protect users. Company representatives expressed disappointment over the lawsuit, arguing that it is based on misrepresentations and sensationalized claims, and suggested that collaborative solutions across the industry would be more effective.
Paxton, who is running in next year’s Republican primary against U.S. Senator John Cornyn, has emphasized the risks he believes children face on online gaming platforms. The attorney general’s office contends that Roblox has created an environment that allows predators to target minors, and the lawsuit seeks to hold the company accountable for failing to prevent such risks.
The legal backdrop for Paxton’s actions includes recent changes in Texas law aimed at increasing protections for minors online. In 2023, the state enacted legislation requiring social media and gaming platforms to take steps to prevent children from encountering inappropriate material. However, portions of the law have faced judicial challenges, with some sections blocked for being unconstitutionally vague. Paxton has utilized the remaining enforceable provisions to pursue cases against companies including TikTok and now Roblox, with litigation in the TikTok case still ongoing.
The Roblox lawsuit has been filed in King County, located in West Texas. The county is the second least populous in the state, with just 265 residents and no incorporated communities. A single judge, Jennifer Habert, handles cases for King County as well as three other counties, a circumstance that has drawn some attention due to the unusual venue for a high-profile technology lawsuit.
The legal actions against Roblox and other online platforms are part of a broader national conversation about child safety in digital environments. While technology companies argue they are taking significant measures to protect young users, lawmakers and state officials continue to pursue regulatory and legal avenues to ensure that platforms are held accountable for maintaining safe online spaces for children.
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