Roblox sued over alleged child sexploitation after 5-year-old targeted in attempted kidnapping

A mother sues Roblox, alleging child sexploitation after her 5-year-old was nearly kidnapped

A California mother has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Roblox of fostering an unsafe environment for minors after her 5-year-old son was allegedly groomed on the platform and later targeted in an attempted kidnapping by an adult man he met through the app.

According to the lawsuit, filed this week in the Northern District of California, the child was an active Roblox user in 2024 when a man posing as a young boy allegedly befriended him online.

The complaint states that the predator used classic grooming behaviors to build trust and eventually coaxed the child into sharing personal details, including the school he attended.

The situation escalated when another parent alerted the mother that a suspicious adult had been seen following children near the school.

Before she could investigate, the boy reportedly returned home and told her that a man approached him and his brother, claiming to be his “friend from Roblox.”

When the child responded, “You are not a kid,” the man allegedly attempted to abduct him. A struggle ensued, and the suspect fled upon noticing police arriving. He was later arrested following a report filed by the mother.

The lawsuit paints Roblox, a platform with more than 380 million monthly users, as an environment where adults can easily masquerade as children and interact with minors through avatars, games, and chat systems.

It also claims the platform contains hundreds of user-generated games referencing alleged sexual misconduct by public figures, as well as accounts mimicking the name of Jeffrey Epstein.

The family is seeking unspecified damages for the emotional and physical trauma they say the boy suffered.

“This case is a terrifying reminder of the world we live in, where capitalist greed far outweighs humanity,” attorney Sadi R. Antonmattei-Goitia of Kherkher Garcia, which represents the family, said in a statement.

The firm argues that Roblox lacks adequate age verification, monitoring tools, and safety controls to prevent predatory behavior.

Roblox, in a statement to The Post, said it is “deeply troubled” by the alleged incident and emphasized its safety protocols, including filtered chat, restrictions for younger users, and limitations on sharing personal information.

The company said it launched more than 145 new safety initiatives this year but acknowledged “no system is perfect.”

The gaming giant has faced similar lawsuits in recent years, including cases filed in Kentucky and North Carolina alleging that predators used the platform to target children.

The case adds to growing scrutiny of online platforms and the effectiveness of digital safeguards for young users in large virtual ecosystems.