Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Roblox Collects, Discloses Children’s Data Without Parental Consent

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A proposed class action lawsuit alleges Roblox Corporation secretly harvests troves of player data, including that of its largely minor user base.

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According to the 45-page lawsuit, Roblox uses hidden tracking technology to essentially “wiretap” a player’s every interaction with the popular online gaming platform, from keystrokes and mouse movements to chat messages and search terms. The case claims the defendant also captures unique device identifiers that allow it to link a specific user to their gameplay habits.

Roblox then monetizes this ill-gotten data, either by using behavioral insights to show players targeted content and keep them hooked on the platform or by sharing personal information with third-party advertisers, the filing contends.

The case argues that Roblox’s data collection scheme is at odds with the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, which, per the suit, requires website operators to obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting, using or disclosing personal information about children.

Roblox knows its platform is dominated by young players, the filing claims, noting that roughly 54 percent of daily active users are age 13 or older, while 46 percent are under 13. The defendant nevertheless designed the platform to record and disseminate data about children without their parents’ knowledge or consent, the lawsuit alleges.

“At no point do Roblox users—or parents of minor users—give informed consent to this breadth of data collection,” the complaint says. “Roblox’s user interface provides no clear warning that by using the platform, the user is subject to extensive tracking.”

The case was brought by two California parents who say they allowed their 12-year-old child to use Roblox with the understanding that the platform was safe and family-friendly.

“Roblox shattered those expectations by imposing their data collection methods on users in a manner akin to installing a surveillance bug on their personal device,” the complaint asserts.

The plaintiffs say they would not have allowed their child access to Roblox had they known it would effectively spy on the minor’s activities and identity for profit.

Per the filing, Roblox’s alleged privacy violations expose young users to significant risks.

“Children are less aware of privacy risks and more vulnerable to manipulation in that Roblox’s tracking could lead to manipulative targeting or profiling of children, shaping their online experience in unseen ways,” the Roblox lawsuit says. “Moreover, the unauthorized creation of a persistent profile on a child carries the risk of that data being misused or even breached, exposing the child to potential safety issues.”

The suit looks to represent all United States residents, including minors and adults, who used the Roblox platform (website or apps) at any time since July 1, 2021.

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