Published September 13, 2026
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge denied Roblox's anti-SLAPP motion and its separate motion to dismiss on September 1, 2026, in a child safety lawsuit brought by Los Angeles County — clearing the way for the case to move toward the merits. Judge Dean J. Kitchens found that the county had "demonstrated a probability of success on the merits" for each of its challenged claims, rejecting Roblox's argument that its content-moderation choices were protected speech under the First Amendment.
The county's complaint, filed in February 2026, alleges that Roblox's age-verification and moderation systems are inadequate despite the company marketing the platform as a safe space for children, and brings claims under California's Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law. County Counsel Dawyn R. Harrison said of the ruling that the case is "not about a minor lapse in safety," but "about a company that gives pedophiles powerful tools to prey on innocent children."
An anti-SLAPP motion is typically used to get a lawsuit thrown out early by arguing it targets constitutionally protected activity, such as speech or editorial judgment. Because Roblox's motion was rejected on top of the separate motion to dismiss, the county's case now proceeds to discovery and eventually trial or settlement, rather than ending at this preliminary stage. The county is seeking injunctive relief, abatement, and civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation per day.
Los Angeles County's suit is one of more than 180 Roblox-related cases now coordinated in a federal MDL in the Northern District of California, alongside lawsuits from multiple states including Louisiana, Kentucky, Texas, Florida, Iowa, Tennessee, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Roblox is also facing a bipartisan U.S. Senate document request over child safety practices, and European regulators designated the platform a "Very Large Online Platform" in early September, which will require additional safety and transparency compliance by January 2027.
If your child was contacted, groomed, or sexually exploited by a predator through Roblox, see Atumio's Roblox child safety case page for a free eligibility review, or start your case review directly.