TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In a bold move, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has announced the issuance of criminal subpoenas to the popular online platform Roblox. The action comes in response to allegations that the site facilitates predators in targeting and harming young users.

During his announcement on Monday, Uthmeier revealed that investigations have uncovered instances where predators use Roblox to interact with and groom minors. He criticized the platform for inadequate age verification processes and insufficient moderation of explicit content.

Uthmeier emphasized, “Platforms like Roblox have unfortunately become havens for predators seeking to exploit our children. We are committed to doing everything in our power to protect them, and any entity that places them at risk will be held responsible.”

Further reports indicate that some predators are exploiting the platform’s virtual currency, known as “Robux,” as a means to coerce minors into sharing sexually explicit images, according to Uthmeier.

There are also allegations from victims who claim that Roblox has knowingly neglected to enforce robust safety measures or adequately inform parents about potential risks. Moreover, accusations have surfaced suggesting that the platform has failed to report instances of child exploitation to the relevant authorities, despite publicly asserting that it is a safe environment for younger audiences.

“Roblox profited off of our kids while exposing them to the most dangerous of harms,” Uthmeier said in a video posted on X. “They enable our kids to be abused.”

This isn’t the first time Uthmeier has issued a subpoena against Roblox. The attorney general issued one back in April demanding information about how the site markets to children, sets age-verification requirements and moderates chat rooms.

“As a father and Attorney General, children’s safety and protection are a top priority,” Uthemeier previously stated. “There are concerning reports that this gaming platform, which is popular among children, is exposing them to harmful content and bad actors. We are issuing a subpoena to Roblox to uncover how this platform is marketing to children and to see what policies they are implementing—if any—to avoid interactions with predators.”