Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has issued criminal subpoenas to Roblox Corporation, marking a significant escalation in state-level scrutiny of the online gaming giant’s child safety practices. The subpoenas, announced Monday, are part of an investigation into allegations that Roblox has failed to adequately protect children from predators and harmful interactions on its platform.

In a video message posted on X (formerly Twitter), Uthmeier said his office is determined to hold the company accountable for what he described as systemic safety failures. “Roblox has created an environment where predators can easily access and exploit our children,” Uthmeier stated. “They enabled our kids to be abused, and they must answer for it.”

The Florida Attorney General’s Office confirmed that the subpoenas were issued under criminal authority, signaling the possibility of a broader probe into whether the company violated state or federal laws related to child exploitation, privacy, or online safety standards. Uthmeier emphasized that the state’s investigation will focus on uncovering potential evidence of criminal activity involving minors on the platform and determining whether Roblox profited from unsafe conditions.

Roblox Under Growing Scrutiny

Roblox, which boasts more than 200 million monthly active users—many of them children and teenagers—has been under mounting scrutiny over the past few years for safety issues. The platform allows users to create and play games designed by other users, but it has also faced criticism for enabling inappropriate content and interactions.

In October 2024, short-seller Hindenburg Research released a report accusing Roblox of failing to protect children from predatory behavior and inappropriate content. The report alleged that, despite the company’s claims of having extensive safety systems, predators and exploitative behavior still thrive within the platform’s vast network of user-generated content.

While Roblox rejected Hindenburg’s claims as misleading, the controversy intensified public debate over whether online gaming platforms are doing enough to safeguard minors. The Florida investigation now places additional legal and political pressure on the company to demonstrate that it has effective protections in place.

Roblox’s Defense and Safety Initiatives

In response to the subpoenas and ongoing criticism, Roblox issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to user safety. The company emphasized that its safety systems include a combination of automated monitoring tools, AI-driven content filters, and human moderators who review user interactions around the clock.

The company has also been developing an age-estimation system that uses facial analysis and machine learning to verify users’ ages, aiming to better control access to certain chat and content features. Roblox has described this initiative as part of a larger effort to make the platform “the safest metaverse for kids and teens.”

Despite these assurances, critics argue that Roblox’s safety measures remain insufficient. Online safety experts have long warned that the platform’s open-world structure and user-generated content system create opportunities for predators to contact and groom children, often through private messages, group chats, or custom-designed games.

Broader Legal and Global Challenges

The Florida subpoenas are not the first legal challenge Roblox has faced concerning child safety. Earlier this year, the Attorney General of Louisiana filed a similar complaint against the company, citing failures in moderating interactions and preventing child exploitation.

Internationally, Roblox has also encountered growing resistance. Iraq recently announced a nationwide ban on the platform, citing concerns that it could expose children to sexual predators and extortion schemes. Other nations have reportedly begun reviewing Roblox’s policies following similar safety concerns.

In the United States, class action lawsuits have also been filed in California and other states, alleging that Roblox’s negligence has allowed predators to engage in abusive behavior on the platform. Several of these cases are still pending, and some have called for greater federal oversight of online platforms catering to minors.

Potential Legal and Policy Implications

The Florida Attorney General’s investigation could have far-reaching implications not only for Roblox but also for the broader online gaming industry. If prosecutors find evidence of criminal conduct or gross negligence, Roblox could face substantial fines, stricter operating restrictions, or mandated reforms to its moderation and safety systems.

Moreover, this case could prompt renewed legislative attention to child protection laws in digital spaces. Lawmakers across several states have proposed new regulations that would require platforms like Roblox to verify users’ ages, restrict chat features for minors, and provide transparency in how they moderate harmful content.

For now, the company remains under intense public and regulatory scrutiny. The subpoenas mark a new phase in the growing conflict between tech innovation and child protection — an issue that continues to challenge both regulators and the digital entertainment industry.

As Uthmeier concluded in his public statement, “Florida will not stand by while tech companies profit off our children’s vulnerability. We will use every tool available to ensure their safety and hold those accountable who fail to protect them.”

Whether this investigation leads to criminal charges, tighter regulations, or a broader reckoning for online gaming safety, it underscores a critical reality: the digital playground is no longer beyond the reach of the law.

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The law, regardless of other implications can make providing internet in China infeasible for private companies. If private internet providers are held criminally responsible for user posted content on some website or forum, then the costs of monitoring would obviously become prohibitive.

For a long time, the Communist party bigwigs in China had been upset over the freedom offered by the internet, and the ease with which people had started criticizing the Communist party. This law provides for censorship the way they want it in China.

The Xinhua News Agency reported, Service providers are required to instantly stop the transmission of illegal information once it is spotted and take relevant measures, including removing the information and saving records, before reporting to supervisory authorities, the decision says.

The Xinhua also said the law empowers supervising departments to take technical and other necessary measures to prevent, stop or punish those who infringe on online privacy, requiring relevant service providers to give support during investigations.

Li Fei, a member of the National People’s Congress standing committee said that “Some people are worried that the law would affect people making criticism and suggestions or uncovering corrupt behavior through the Web … I think it is not necessary. Citizens have the right to criticize, suggest and appeal to relevant department according to the law.” Fei also added, “citizens … can’t violate others’ rights or the nation’s rights as a whole.”

The post China Passes Law to Enforce Real Name Registration for Internet Users first appeared on JDJournal Blog.

On Friday, May 6, a draft bill was released by two US Representatives, Joe Barton (R-TX) and Edward Markey (D-MA). It is aimed at putting new restrictions on companies that track the Internet activity of users under the age of 18 without their parent’s permission.

The new draft bill is called “The Do Not Track Kids Act of 2011” and would amend federal law that exists to protect children on the Internet, due to more minors using the Internet more frequently.  It would stop companies from using the internet information of minors for targeted marketing, as well as allowing their parents to remove the information about their children that has already been collected.

According to Markey, in a press release: “[K]ids growing up in this online environment also need protection from the dangers that can lurk in cyberspace…I am releasing this…so that kids do not have their online behavior tracked or their personal information collected or used without permission…”

Focusing on protecting privacy online, especially in today’s digital world, is increasingly important every day, and is something that should be on the forefront of each and every person that uses the Internet, whether it is on smartphones, laptops, tablets, or regular desktop computers.

There is currently a flurry of new proposed online privacy laws, and I expect that many more will follow, to make sure that everyone has a right to protect their privacy, both online and off.

The post New Draft Bill Released by US Lawmakers to Protect Online Privacy of Children first appeared on JDJournal Blog.

Harvard Law School’s Cyberlaw Clinic has announced a new fellowship position that will be funded by Cooley, Godward, and Kronish, a law firm focusing on technology law.  The fellowship aims to foster a closer relationship between the two organizations.

The Cyberlaw Clinic, which is part of Harvard Law’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society, defends anonymous online posters who face legal demands for their identities, negotiates online music and licensing agreements, and explores issues such as internet surveillance and the influence of the internet on democracy, according to director Phillip R. Malone.

The newly created fellowship will provide financial support for one of two fellows already working at the clinic, says Malone.  Malone also mentioned that the position will create a closer collaboration with the Cooley firm, allowing the Clinic access to the firm’s expertise and resources.

John G. Palfrey, a Law School professor who formerly oversaw the Clinic, called the fellowship a “major step forward for the study of cyberlaw at Harvard Law School” and  praised the relationship with Cooley, who he called “a leader in intellectual property law.”

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