In 2023, Roblox disclosed more than 13,000 incidents to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
In 2023, Roblox recorded more than 13,000 cases of child exploitation, reporting these incidents to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Approximately 24 individuals were apprehended for targeting and abusing minors on the popular gaming platform in the United States.
This marks a sharp increase from the preceding year's 3,000 cases.
Hosting around 77 million daily users, 40% of whom are below 13 years old, Roblox's extensive reach spans PlayStation, PC, and various mobile devices, making it highly accessible to younger audiences.
Despite cooperating with law enforcement on 1,300 cases involving predatory behavior, as reported by Bloomberg, several notorious offenders have slipped through the cracks. One such individual, Arnold "DoctorRofatnik" Castillo, managed to elude identification while running the popular Sonic Eclipse Online. Castillo was eventually apprehended and received a 15-year prison sentence after arranging for a 15-year-old girl to travel 700 miles to meet him, where she became a victim of grooming and sexual assault.
Roblox defends its long-term commitment to user safety, expressing that the platform has been constructed to be an especially secure environment, particularly for young users. Addressing a report from Eurogamer, the company pointed to "glaring mischaracterizations" in Bloomberg's article, emphasizing both the intricacies of online child safety and the generally positive experiences it provides.
Matt Kaufman, Roblox's chief safety officer, affirmed in a statement that their dedication to safety remains paramount as the platform evolves. He noted, "As our platform evolves and scales, forging a new future for communication and connection, our investment in preventative safety measures remains fundamental."
Kaufman further highlighted that only "0.0063% of [its] total content was flagged as violating policies around issues such as bullying, hate speech, and violent extremism," referencing the company's detection and reporting mechanisms.
He added that Roblox employs a combination of automated and manual systems to monitor a broad range of safety issues, stating, "This approach guides our work in fostering the most safe and civil interactions on the internet and, on the most basic level, means that we can say that safety issues are not widespread or systemic on Roblox."
Kaufman emphasized the ongoing commitment to safety, acknowledging the severity of even a single incident affecting children's well-being. "We sympathize deeply with families and individuals who have been impacted," he remarked.
He concluded by assuring continued efforts to keep users safe and deter malicious actors, underscoring that this pivotal work is perpetual. "We commit to continually invest and adapt to address the evolving threat landscape to keep our community safe," Kaufman stated, noting that advancements in safety tools and features are already underway.
