US Senate subcommittee opens investigation into Roblox child safety
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The US Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism has opened an investigation into child safety on Roblox, citing cases of grooming, sexual abuse, and kidnapping linked to the platform. Chairman Josh Hawley and ranking member Dick Durbin sent a letter to CEO David Baszucki saying the company 'appears to prioritize revenue and engagement metrics over the safety and well-being of our children.' The probe adds to lawsuits and regulatory actions from Louisiana, Kentucky, Florida, Texas, and other jurisdictions over alleged systemic child safety failures.
The Senate Letter
Chairman Josh Hawley and ranking member Dick Durbin sent the letter to Roblox CEO David Baszucki, saying the company 'appears to prioritize revenue and engagement metrics over the safety and well-being of our children.' The letter says police have arrested numerous people over the past decade for grooming, sexual abuse, kidnapping, rape, and murder linked to contacts made on Roblox. It also accuses the platform of being used to trade child sexual abuse material, host explicit virtual experiences with children, and lure minors into in-person meetings.
Company Safety Response
Roblox has tightened restrictions on unrated games, introduced age estimation checks, and rolled out limited accounts for underage users in response to safety criticism. CEO David Baszucki told concerned parents in a direct statement: 'Don't let your kids be on Roblox.' In 2025, Baszucki called the predator problem 'not just a problem, but an opportunity,' a comment that drew widespread criticism. He also floated turning Roblox into a dating hub while the company faced legal actions from Louisiana, Kentucky, Florida, Texas, LA County, Australia, and the UK.
Legal and Market Pressure
Roblox faces lawsuits or regulatory action from Louisiana, Kentucky, Florida, Texas, Los Angeles County, Australia, and the United Kingdom over alleged systemic child safety failures. At the same time, the US Attorney General Alliance praised Roblox 'for its readiness to collaborate directly with policymakers and respond to community concerns.' The platform's audience remains large but has softened, and its share price is trading around levels seen in 2023 and 2024. The Senate investigation adds to pressure from multiple directions on the company.
What's Next
The subcommittee is expected to review Roblox's child safety practices and may call CEO David Baszucki or other executives to testify in the coming months. It remains unclear how the investigation will affect Roblox's existing legal battles or its already-softening user base.
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US Senate subcommittee opens investigation into Roblox child safety
