A California judge has ruled that a lawsuit against the online gaming platform Roblox will remain in public court, rejecting the company's request to move the case to a private arbitration process. The ruling, issued by California Superior Court Judge Nina Shapirshteyn, applies to a specific case in San Mateo County but is seen by attorneys representing multiple families as a significant legal precedent. This decision may allow other victims to pursue their claims against Roblox in the judicial system.

Roblox, which launched in 2006, has faced increasing scrutiny amid allegations that its platform has been used to facilitate child sexual exploitation and grooming. The company is currently dealing with over 35 lawsuits, with one law firm investigating thousands of claims related to child exploitation and abuse. In 2024, Roblox reported nearly 83 million average daily active users and $3.6 billion in revenue.

State attorneys general from Louisiana and Kentucky have filed lawsuits against Roblox, while Florida's attorney general has subpoenaed the company for details regarding its age verification and chat moderation policies. In response to these allegations, Roblox has emphasized its commitment to child safety and announced investments in safety measures, including artificial intelligence for age verification.

A spokesperson for Roblox stated, "We are deeply troubled by any allegations about harms to children online and are committed to setting the industry standard for safety." The company has implemented policies to limit chat for younger users and employs advanced filters to block the sharing of personal information. Additionally, Roblox prohibits users from sharing images or videos and collaborates closely with law enforcement.

Roblox plans to appeal the recent ruling. The lawsuit was initiated by a father, referred to as Steve, who created a Roblox account for his 13-year-old son in 2023. A year later, Steve discovered troubling messages on his son's phone from an individual who had contacted his son through the platform, despite not being friends. The perpetrator, who initially posed as a 16-year-old, allegedly moved their communication to Discord, where he began exploiting Steve's son by offering in-game currency in exchange for explicit images and videos.

Steve reported that the messages included threats after his son failed to attend an arranged meeting, with the accused predator revealing personal information about the family. After contacting local police, Steve learned that the individual was a known predator facing charges for exploiting another child. Steve's lawsuit against Roblox and Discord claims that the companies misled parents about their platforms' safety features, leading to his son's exploitation.

A spokesperson for Discord stated that the company is committed to safety and requires users to be at least 13 years old. They also mentioned that they maintain strong systems to prevent sexual exploitation and grooming on their platform.

Steve expressed frustration over the situation, stating, "I did my best to enable every parental control I could find... and it still happened." He believes Roblox was the starting point for the troubling interactions his son experienced.

Alexandra Walsh, the attorney representing Steve and other clients, criticized Roblox's attempt to compel arbitration, calling it an effort to silence families and keep their experiences hidden from public scrutiny. In court filings, Roblox argued that the dispute should be settled confidentially, citing the Terms of Service and Arbitration Agreement that users agree to upon signing up.

Judge Shapirshteyn's rejection of Roblox's motion to compel arbitration has been viewed positively by Steve, who stated, "Everyone deserves a day in court, but Roblox and these companies don't want that to happen." He also shared that his family relocated due to safety concerns, highlighting the ease with which predators can exploit children online today. "Predators aren't down at your local park anymore... it has become just so easy for them to come online and pretend to be somebody that they're not," he said.