Global Scrutiny on a Youth Platform

The Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, initiated legal action against Roblox Corporation on Thursday, November 6, 2025, accusing the massively popular online gaming platform of prioritizing profits over the safety of its young users. The lawsuit alleges that Roblox has become a "breeding ground for predators" by deceiving parents about the effectiveness of its safety measures and violating state and federal online safety laws. Paxton's office claims that children in Texas have been exposed to sexual exploitation, grooming, and inappropriate content because the company "chose to put pixel pedophiles and corporate profit over the safety of Texas children."

The legal filing contends that Roblox failed to implement adequate protections, such as robust age verification and content moderation, while marketing itself as a safe digital environment for families. This legal challenge is the latest in a series of lawsuits against the company in the United States, with attorneys general in Louisiana and Kentucky having filed similar complaints, adding to the mounting pressure on the gaming giant which boasts over 110 million daily active users globally.

In response to the lawsuit, a Roblox spokesperson stated the company is "disappointed" by the legal action, describing the claims as "misrepresentations and sensationalized." The company affirmed its commitment to child safety, telling FOX 7 Austin that it has implemented "industry-leading protocols" to protect users and has introduced over 145 safety measures this year alone. Roblox maintains that its policies are purposefully stricter than those on many other platforms.

The Kenyan Context: Proactive Regulation Meets Global Concerns

While the Texas lawsuit unfolds thousands of miles away, its allegations resonate deeply within Kenya's evolving digital landscape. The country has been proactive in addressing the risks children face online. In April 2025, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) issued the "Industry Guidelines for Child Online Protection and Safety," a comprehensive and legally binding framework for all ICT service providers operating in the country. These guidelines, which came into effect on October 29, 2025, mandate that companies implement robust safety measures, including age-verification mechanisms, heightened default privacy settings for children, and clear complaint-handling procedures.

The CA's regulations are built on the principle that child protection is a shared responsibility and require companies to actively prevent online risks such as grooming, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful content like Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). All licensees under the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998, which would include platforms like Roblox if they operate in Kenya, are required to comply within a six-month window.

Furthermore, the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) is mandated under the Films and Stage Plays Act to regulate content, including video games, to ensure it is appropriate for different age groups. The KFCB has previously taken action against content deemed harmful, such as the "Blue Whale Challenge," demonstrating a willingness to intervene to protect children.

A Universal Challenge for Parents and Regulators

The issues at the heart of the Texas lawsuit—inadequate content moderation, risks of grooming, and deceptive marketing—are universal challenges. A 2021 report by ChildFund International and the Africa Child Policy Forum revealed that up to 13% of children aged 12-17 in Kenya have been threatened or blackmailed into participating in online sexual activities. Another study highlighted that between 5% and 13% of Kenyan children using the internet reported experiencing online sexual exploitation or abuse in the past year.

Roblox has stated that a significant portion of its global user base is under the age of 16. While specific user data for Kenya is not publicly detailed, one report from September 2025 mentioned a "significant increase" in its Kenyan user base. The platform has introduced a range of parental controls, including the ability to block specific users, track screen time, and set spending limits. For users under 13, chat functions are filtered and restricted by default.

The legal battle in Texas serves as a critical reminder for Kenyan parents and guardians of the importance of utilizing these parental controls and maintaining open conversations with their children about online safety. For Kenyan regulators, it underscores the necessity of rigorously enforcing the new child online protection guidelines to ensure that global tech platforms, regardless of their origin, adhere to local laws designed to protect the nation's youth. The outcome of the US lawsuits could set important precedents for holding technology companies accountable globally, potentially influencing future regulatory actions in East Africa and beyond. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED on specific Roblox user numbers in Kenya.