The company behind the popular Roblox video game platform agreed to implement child safeguards and pay Nevada entities $12.5 million in response to a state lawsuit.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford announced his office’s deal with Roblox Corp. during a press conference Wednesday.

Under the agreement, the technology company will be required to verify the ages of all its Nevada users, bar minors from using encrypted messaging and place restrictions on who they can communicate with, Ford said.

Roblox and Ford said the company would use face recognition technology and ID checks to place users in appropriate age groups.

Ford noted that his office began investigating Roblox in late 2024.

“I’m happy to say that Roblox was responsive to our inquiries and came to the table to reach an agreement without us having to initiate litigation against them,” Ford said. “Since the beginning of our investigation, Nevada and Roblox have worked collaboratively to address concerns and provide greater online safety protections for Nevada’s youth.”

Roblox agreed to spend $1 million on an online-safety awareness campaign in Nevada and said it would fund the position of a liaison who will collaborate with and educate law enforcement about the platform, he said.

Furthermore, Ford said, Roblox pledged to spend $10 million over the next three years to fund youth recreational programs.

“These platforms and this technology are not going anywhere,” he said. “But that does not mean that we don’t take the necessary steps to protect our children.”

The Associated Press noted that Roblox has been sued in other U.S. states on allegations it fails to protect children.

Settlement filed in court

The consent decree was filed Wednesday in District Court alongside a complaint that alleged that Roblox lacked safeguards and had allowed child predators to fester on the platform. Roblox disputed the claims but agreed to settle.

“Roblox is proud to have worked alongside Attorney General Aaron Ford to reach this landmark agreement, which builds on our work to establish a new standard for digital safety,” Matt Kaufman, Roblox’s chief security officer, said in a statement. “This resolution creates a blueprint for how industry and regulators can work together to protect the next generation of digital citizens.”

Added Kaufman: “We have no finish line when it comes to safety, and we are grateful for the Attorney General’s advocacy in pioneering this path forward.”

Ford also thanked Roblox and issued a warning to other social media companies. His office has joined lawsuits against platforms like Meta and TikTok.

“If you come to the table in good faith, we are here to talk,” he said. “If you do not, however, we will take you to court. We will fight on behalf of Nevada’s children, and we’re going to win.”

A clause in the agreement mandates that if another state reaches a better deal with Roblox, the company has to match Nevada with it, Ford said. “This is a good deal.”

Safeguards

Roblox outlined changes it made to address child safety, crediting discussions with Nevada and other officials worldwide.

They include increased parental controls, accounts for users under age 16 and a wider variety of games within the platform more suitable for children.

Roblox has more than 150 million daily active users, which makes up about half of the U.S. population of children under the age of 16, Ford said. About 42 percent of users are younger than 13 years old.

“While we dispute the claims in the complaint, this landmark agreement is a step forward in our work to create a healthy, safe, age-appropriate environment,” Roblox’s statement said.

Contact Ricardo Torres-Cortez at rtorres@reviewjournal.com.