U.S. Senate Subcommittee Launches Child Safety Probe into Roblox

The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism has launched an investigation into Roblox Corporation to determine if the company prioritizes revenue and engagement metrics over the safety of its juvenile user base. Senators Josh Hawley and Dick Durbin have requested nearly 30 types of internal documents and moderation data by August 31, 2026, focusing on reports of sexual exploitation, predation, and abuse of users under 18 between 2023 and 2025.

The subcommittee cited a history of serious crimes, including kidnapping and murder, involving individuals who met children through the platform. Records show Roblox reported over 65,000 suspected child exploitation cases to the National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children in 2025.

Roblox Chief Safety Officer Matt Kaufman defended the platform, stating it is "built on the foundation of safety." The company has since implemented facial age estimation and restricted direct messaging for users under 13. This congressional probe follows similar scrutiny from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Australian government, and lawsuits in Louisiana and Los Angeles County.