At the time of publication, Roblox is facing nearly 60 lawsuits across the country alleging that it facilitated and enabled the sexual exploitation of dozens of children. A common thread among these lawsuits is Roblox’s stunning lack of basic safety features to protect kids. In response to this growing backlash, Roblox’s co-founder and CEO David Baszucki recently announced a new AI-assisted facial age estimation technology.
Baszucki’s recent appearance on the Hard Fork podcast made headlines, not for this safety rollout, but for how he framed the predatory behavior occurring on the platform. Baszucki stated, “We think of it not necessarily just as a problem, but an opportunity as well.”
Controversial Statements From Roblox CEO Make Headlines
Baszucki recently joined Hard Fork to discuss the age-estimation system with New York Times journalists Kevin Roose and Casey Newton. Almost immediately, the conversation shifted to predators infiltrating the platform.
“What do you think of the problem of predators on Roblox?” Newton asked.
“We think of it not necessarily as a problem, but as an opportunity as well,” Baszucki replied. “How do we allow young people to build, communicate and hang out together? How do we build the future of communication at the same time?”
Roblox’s approach to this “opportunity” centers on facial age estimation. Users upload a selfie that AI analyzes to place them into different age bands. While helpful in theory, the system has significant limitations. Newton noted that kids in the E.U. bypassed similar tools by uploading images of video game characters. When asked how Roblox planned to prevent this “tinkering,” Baszucki said they rely on unspecified “other signals” that become reliable when combined.
But which signals? Optional photo ID verification that many minors can’t use? Behavioral indicators, such as parent reports that can take weeks for Roblox to address? Or chat filters that predators routinely bypass by altering a few letters?
In response to these valid concerns, Baszucki reverted to Roblox’s common refrain about its "historically restrictive” filters. Newton pushed back, pointing out how easily predators bypass these filters, according to recent lawsuits. When confronted with this contradiction, Baszucki said, “I don’t want to comment on it.”
He later said that whatever Roblox’s new technology might (or might not) be able to achieve in the future, for now and for most of Roblox’s existence, adults have been able to freely communicate with minors.
A Growing Disconnect Between Messaging and Reality
When asked why Roblox prioritizes open-ended communication among users, Baszucki emphasized the platform’s social benefits. “There’s a lot of kids who find their peeps on Roblox. There are a lot of kids [who play] when they’re lonely or isolated.” He claimed that famous parents have told him, “My kid would be dead if it were not for finding a community on a platform like Roblox to stay connected with.”
But the mother of Ethan Dallas would strongly disagree. Ethan, who also felt lonely and isolated, looked for friends on Roblox and instead met a dangerous predator. Ethan tragically died by suicide after being groomed and sexually exploited by that predator.
As the interview continued, tensions escalated. Roose and Newton brought up reports, including one from Hindenburg Research, arguing that Roblox compromised child safety to present stronger growth to investors. Baszucki, visibly frustrated, responded, “I thought we were going to be talking about fun, funny things in the industry and all of that.”
Roose ended with a personal question: his three-and-a-half-year-old will likely ask to play Roblox soon. “Will it be safe by then?” he asked.
Baszucki answered, “Roblox is an amazing platform right now for your kid. And I’m happy to go deep with you, possibly nondisclose you, show you metrics, all of that, to do whatever it takes to get you over the hump.”
Anapol Weiss is Here to Help
Baszucki’s interview was meant to spotlight new safety features, yet it underscored a widening gap between Roblox’s assurances and the reality parents continue to face. Age estimation cannot compensate for chat filters that fail, slow response times to safety reports, or close loopholes that predators exploit with ease.
If parents continue to let their kids use Roblox, they should remain vigilant, use parental controls, and closely monitor their child’s interactions. And as long as these systemic gaps remain, Roblox’s public messaging will continue facing scrutiny from lawmakers, advocates, and the families affected by its safety failures.
If your child was groomed on Roblox, don’t face this alone. Call Anapol Weiss at 215-608-9645 or fill out our online contact form to speak with a member of our team.
Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. It should not be considered as legal advice. For personalized legal assistance, please consult our team directly.