Roblox Lawsuit (MDL-3166)
Child Sexual Exploitation and Assault Litigation
The federal litigation brought by families whose children were groomed, exploited, or abused by adults they met through Roblox, often after the contact moved to Discord or Snapchat. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation centralized the cases before Judge Richard Seeborg in the Northern District of California on December 12, 2025. Ten state attorneys general and Los Angeles County have sued Roblox separately, five states have settled for payments to the states, and Roblox and Discord are fighting to move families' cases into arbitration.
Which Roblox lawsuit is this?
This page covers MDL-3166, the child sexual exploitation cases. It is not the separate Roblox video game addiction litigation coordinated in California state court (no federal MDL exists for those claims), not Robux refund or account-ban complaints, and not the securities class action brought by Roblox shareholders. If an adult targeted your child through Roblox, start with who qualifies or how to file.
Key Takeaways
- The JPML centralized MDL-3166 on December 12, 2025 before Judge Richard Seeborg (N.D. Cal., No. 3:25-md-03166-RS)
- 180 cases pending as of October 2026, up from 85 in January but down two from September, the first monthly decline
- 10 state attorneys general and Los Angeles County have sued Roblox; 5 states have settled (money to the states, not families)
- Defendants: Roblox, with Discord, Snap, or Meta named in cases where the contact moved off Roblox
- The live legal fight is arbitration: Roblox and Discord moved on September 22, 2026 to compel arbitration in the MDL bellwether cases, with a hearing set for January 13, 2027; a California ruling against them is on appeal. Section 230 has not been ruled on in the MDL
- There is no class action, no claim form, no settlement of the individual cases, and no per-person payout
Case Growth Tracking
Timeline showing state AG filings and federal MDL consolidation.
Source: JPML MDL Statistics Reports, State AG filings
Key Facts (October 2026)
| Pending Actions | 180 cases in federal MDL |
| Total Actions Filed | 190 cases |
| Key Defendants | Roblox Corporation, Discord Inc., Snap Inc., Meta Platforms Inc. |
| Presiding Judge | Hon. Richard Seeborg (U.S. District Judge, N.D. California) |
| Centralized | December 12, 2025 (JPML Transfer Order); N.D. Cal. No. 3:25-md-03166-RS |
| Alleged Harm | Child sexual exploitation, grooming, sextortion, assault, abduction, wrongful death |
| Live Legal Issues | Motions to compel arbitration (filed September 22, 2026; hearing January 13, 2027; California EFAA ruling on appeal); Section 230 (no ruling in the MDL) |
| Settlement Status | No settlement of the individual cases; settlement master appointed June 22, 2026 to facilitate settlement; five state settlements pay the states only |
| Bellwether Trials | None scheduled |
| Can You Still File? | Yes. Cases are filed directly in N.D. Cal. under the direct filing order; see how to file |
October 2026 Updates
Roblox and Discord are asking courts to move families' cases into private arbitration under their terms of service, in at least one case terms a child accepted at age 8. On September 22, 2026, both companies filed motions to compel arbitration in the MDL's bellwether cases; plaintiffs' oppositions are due October 27, replies November 20, and the court will hear the motions on January 13, 2027. A California superior court has already rejected arbitration of a child's exploitation claims under the federal Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act; that ruling is on appeal, and on August 28, 2026 Senators Durbin, Blumenthal, and Gillibrand filed a brief supporting the families. Separately, the Ninth Circuit held on September 3 that Roblox waived arbitration in a parent's class action by litigating first. What it means for a family's claim →
Oct 2026 JPML count dips to 180 pending, the first monthly decline
The October JPML report lists 180 pending actions of 190 filed, two fewer than September's 182, as three new filings were outpaced by closures. It is the first month-over-month decline since the JPML began reporting the MDL in January.
Sept 29 Kansas settles without suing; reported $9.8 million over three years
Kansas, which had not filed suit, settled with Roblox on September 29. Local news outlets reported the terms as $9.8 million over three years, a $500,000 awareness campaign, and $10 million more if Roblox does not comply. As with the other state settlements, none of the money goes to families, and no MDL case is resolved.
Sept 24 Judge in LA County's case denies Roblox's demurrer and anti-SLAPP motion
In Los Angeles County's separate case, Judge Dean Kitchens denied Roblox's demurrer and anti-SLAPP motion, reportedly finding that Section 230 and the First Amendment do not bar the age-verification claims. It is not a ruling in the MDL, where no Section 230 ruling has been issued.
Sept 22 Roblox and Discord move to compel arbitration; hearing January 13, 2027
Roblox (ECF 452) and Discord (ECF 442) filed motions to compel arbitration in the MDL's bellwether cases. Under the court's schedule (ECF 421, 429, 462), plaintiffs' oppositions are due October 27 and replies November 20, and the motions will be heard on January 13, 2027.
Sept 3 Ninth Circuit upholds denial of arbitration in a parent's class action
In a separate case, the Ninth Circuit upheld the denial of Roblox's motion to compel arbitration in a parent's class action, holding that Roblox waived arbitration by litigating first. The appeal was argued May 22, 2026.
Sept 2026 JPML count reaches 182 pending, up 5 on the month
The September JPML report lists 182 pending actions of 187 filed, after 170 in July and 177 in August. New cases are filed directly in the Northern District of California under the MDL's direct filing order.
Aug 2026 Senate investigation opens; senators back families in arbitration appeal
Senators Hawley and Durbin opened their investigation citing 65,381 suspected child-exploitation reports made by Roblox in 2025, and wrote to Roblox's CEO on August 12 demanding records and document preservation, with a response due August 31. On August 28, Senators Durbin, Blumenthal, and Gillibrand filed an amicus brief in the California Court of Appeal supporting the ruling that Roblox's and Discord's arbitration clauses cannot be enforced against a child's sexual exploitation claims. In the MDL, the court adopted a consolidated guardian ad litem framework (August 5) and evidence-preservation protocols for the most sensitive material (August 13), per a secondary docket tracker.
- Any time: California Court of Appeal decision in the EFAA arbitration appeal; Louisiana Section 230 ruling (argued March 6, 2026)
- October 27 and November 20, 2026: plaintiffs' oppositions and defendants' replies due on the MDL arbitration motions
- November 2, 2026: next JPML monthly report
- November 13, 2026: case management conference in the Los Angeles County case
- November 15, 2026: Texas v. Roblox deadline for Roblox to substantially complete document production
- November 16, 2026: MDL case management conference
- January 13, 2027: MDL hearing on Roblox's and Discord's motions to compel arbitration
- November 8, 2027 and February 2028: reported trial settings in the Iowa and Texas attorney general cases
Older developments are in the timeline and the state actions table below.
State and Local Government Lawsuits
Alongside the federal MDL, 11 state attorneys general and county governments have filed their own enforcement actions against Roblox (two of them also name Discord). These are consumer-protection cases seeking penalties and court-ordered changes; they do not pay families and are separate from the individual cases in MDL-3166.
| Government | Filed | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | June 22, 2026 | Sues Roblox and Discord (ADTPA, public nuisance) |
| Oklahoma | May 14, 2026 | Sues Roblox (Consumer Protection Act) |
| Indiana | May 2026 | Sues Roblox and Discord |
| Nebraska | March 4, 2026 | Sues Roblox (deceptive practices) |
| Los Angeles County | February 19, 2026 | Sues Roblox (UCL and false advertising); demurrer and anti-SLAPP motion denied September 24, 2026 |
| Tennessee | December 18, 2025 | Sues Roblox (Consumer Protection Act) |
| Iowa | December 16, 2025 | Sues Roblox; motion to dismiss largely denied May 14, 2026 |
| Florida | December 11, 2025 | Sues Roblox (FDUTPA) after criminal subpoenas issued October 20, 2025 |
| Texas | November 7, 2025 | Sues Roblox (DTPA); tentative trial February 2028 |
| Kentucky | October 7, 2025 | Sues Roblox (Consumer Protection Act, negligence) |
| Louisiana | August 14, 2025 | First state to sue; Section 230 motion argued March 6, 2026, no ruling reported |
State settlements (paid to states, not families)
| Kansas | September 29, 2026 | $9.8 million over three years, a $500,000 awareness campaign, and $10 million more if Roblox does not comply (as reported by local news outlets) |
| South Dakota | July 13, 2026 | $8.6 million guaranteed to state programs, plus a $5.4 million penalty contingent on a material breach in year one |
| Alabama | April 21, 2026 | $12.2 million to the Safe School Initiative; universal age verification, under-16 chat limited to trusted connections, Robux transfer limits |
| West Virginia | April 21, 2026 | About $11.1 million (secondary reporting) |
| Nevada | April 15, 2026 | $10 million over three years for youth programs, plus a law-enforcement liaison and an awareness campaign |
Alabama, West Virginia, South Dakota, and Kansas settled without first filing suit, so they do not appear in the lawsuit table. Georgia's attorney general opened an investigation in February 2026 but had not sued as of October 2026. Claims that Louisiana, Kentucky, Florida, or Tennessee have settled appear on some sites and are not supported by any primary source.
1 What Is This Lawsuit About?
MDL-3166 consolidates claims against Roblox Corporation and other technology platforms for allegedly creating an environment where child sexual predators can target minors. Plaintiffs allege these companies knew their platforms were being used to groom and exploit children but failed to implement adequate safety measures.
The litigation centers on Roblox, a gaming platform that reported more than 151 million daily active users in 2025, a significant share of them children under 16. The platform allows users to create and share games, chat with other players, and form social connections.
2 Key Allegations
Plaintiffs and state attorneys general allege that Roblox and other defendants:
Failed to Prevent Grooming
Created features allowing adult predators to contact children privately, send gifts of in-game currency ("Robux"), and build relationships designed to exploit minors.
Inadequate Age Verification
Failed to implement meaningful age verification systems, allowing adults to misrepresent their ages and access features designed for minors.
Knowingly Ignored Reports
Received reports of predatory behavior and exploitation but failed to take adequate action, prioritizing user growth and engagement over child safety.
Facilitated Off-Platform Contact
Platform design allowed predators to move children to other platforms (including Discord and Snapchat) where they could communicate without parental oversight.
3 Section 230 Legal Issues
A central legal issue in this litigation is Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which generally shields online platforms from liability for user-generated content. Defendants are expected to argue that this federal law protects them from state law claims.
The Legal Battle
Defense Position
Section 230 immunity protects platforms from liability for third-party content and user conduct. Platforms cannot be held responsible for crimes committed by users.
Plaintiff Position
Claims target platform design decisions and business practices, not user content. Section 230 does not immunize platforms that knowingly facilitate criminal activity through their own product choices.
Status: no Section 230 ruling has been issued in MDL-3166 as of October 2026. In the Iowa attorney general's separate case, a state court held on May 14, 2026 that Section 230 barred content-moderation theories but not claims based on Roblox's own safety representations. In Los Angeles County's separate case, Judge Dean Kitchens denied Roblox's demurrer and anti-SLAPP motion on September 24, 2026, reportedly finding that Section 230 and the First Amendment do not bar the age-verification claims. In the federal social media addiction MDL, the Ninth Circuit held in August 2026 that Section 230 is a defense against liability to be reviewed after trial, not a bar to being sued. Louisiana's Section 230 motion was argued March 6, 2026 with no ruling reported.
4 Litigation Timeline
The earliest reported individual case against Roblox and Discord over a child's sexual exploitation is filed in San Francisco Superior Court. Individual suits accumulate in state and federal courts over the next three years.
The Louisiana attorney general files in Livingston Parish, alleging Roblox facilitated the sexual exploitation of children. Roblox's Section 230 motion is argued March 6, 2026, with no ruling reported.
Kentucky's attorney general sues on October 7. Florida's attorney general issues criminal subpoenas to Roblox on October 20, followed by a civil suit on December 11.
Texas files under its Deceptive Trade Practices Act. A tentative trial is later set for February 2028, with a document-production deadline of November 15, 2026.
Roblox announces facial age estimation, ID, or parental consent to use chat, with age-bracketed chat limits, rolling out first in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands.
The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation transfers 31 actions pending in 12 districts, with 48 related actions, to then-Chief Judge Richard Seeborg in the Northern District of California. Roblox, Discord, Snap, and Meta all opposed centralization. Iowa (December 16) and Tennessee (December 18) sue the same week.
On January 7, Roblox requires age checks to use chat worldwide and blocks adult contact with under-16s by default. The court enters a related-case order (January 5) and the JPML's first report carrying MDL-3166 lists 85 pending actions.
Then-Chief Judge Seeborg appoints plaintiffs' leadership on February 17. Los Angeles County sues Roblox on February 19 under California's unfair competition and false advertising laws.
Nevada (April 15), Alabama (April 21), and West Virginia (April 21) settle their consumer-protection claims for payments to the states and safety changes. On April 16, the court gives notice of its intent to appoint Thomas J. Perrelli to mediate. Roblox announces Kids and Select account tiers on April 13.
An Iowa court largely denies Roblox's motion to dismiss on May 14, holding Section 230 does not bar claims based on Roblox's own safety statements. Indiana (Roblox and Discord) and Oklahoma (May 14) file suit. Fairplay and NCOSE ask the FTC to investigate (May 20).
Arkansas's attorney general: "Roblox left the front door unlocked, and Discord handed predators a private room." The same day, the MDL court appoints Thomas J. Perrelli as settlement master, in a role limited to facilitating settlement. Roblox Kids and Select accounts go global June 16.
South Dakota settles July 13 for $8.6 million guaranteed plus a $5.4 million contingent penalty. On July 28, arbitration bellwether complaints are filed in the MDL against Roblox and Discord (secondary source).
Senators Hawley and Durbin open an investigation on August 12 to 13. On August 28, Senators Durbin, Blumenthal, and Gillibrand file an amicus brief supporting the California ruling that Roblox's and Discord's arbitration clauses cannot be enforced against a child's exploitation claims.
The JPML's September report lists 182 pending actions of 187 filed. No bellwether schedule, no Section 230 ruling, and no decision on the arbitration motions in the MDL.
On September 3, the Ninth Circuit upholds the denial of arbitration in a separate case, a parent's class action, holding that Roblox waived arbitration by litigating first. On September 22, Roblox and Discord move to compel arbitration in the MDL bellwether cases; the motions will be heard January 13, 2027. On September 24, the judge in Los Angeles County's case denies Roblox's demurrer and anti-SLAPP motion, reportedly finding that Section 230 and the First Amendment do not bar the age-verification claims. On September 29, Kansas, which had not sued, reportedly settles for $9.8 million over three years.
The JPML's October report lists 180 pending actions of 190 filed, two fewer than in September, as three new filings were outpaced by closures. There is still no bellwether trial schedule and no Section 230 ruling in the MDL.
5 About the Presiding Judge
Hon. Richard Seeborg
U.S. District Judge, Northern District of California
Judge Seeborg presides over MDL-3166 in San Francisco. He was the district's chief judge until July 1, 2026. The Northern District of California is a natural venue for this litigation given that Roblox is headquartered in San Mateo, California. The district has extensive experience handling complex technology litigation.
6 Defendants in This Litigation
Primary Defendant
Operates the Roblox gaming platform. Headquartered in San Mateo, CA. Over 151 million daily active users, predominantly children.
Other Defendants
- Discord Inc.: voice and chat platform; the most frequent co-defendant, also named in the Indiana and Arkansas AG suits
- Snap Inc.: Snapchat messaging
- Meta Platforms Inc.: Instagram, Facebook
These platforms allegedly served as channels for predators to contact children they met on Roblox.
7 Who May Qualify for a Lawsuit?
Potential Eligibility Criteria
- Child was a user of Roblox or related platforms (Discord, Snapchat, Instagram)
- Child was subjected to sexual exploitation, grooming, or abuse by an adult met through the platform
- Abuse occurred through platform features such as direct messaging, gifting, or voice chat
- Child or family has evidence of platform use and abuse
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Roblox lawsuit real, and is it still going?
Yes. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation centralized the Roblox child sexual exploitation cases as MDL-3166 on December 12, 2025, before Judge Richard Seeborg in the Northern District of California. As of October 2026, 180 cases are pending, two fewer than in September, as three new filings were outpaced by closures. Ten state attorneys general and Los Angeles County have sued Roblox separately, and five states have settled.
Which Roblox lawsuit is this?
MDL-3166 is the federal litigation brought by families whose children were sexually exploited, groomed, or abused by adults they met through Roblox, often with the contact moving to Discord or Snapchat. It is separate from the Roblox video game addiction cases coordinated in California state court (no federal MDL exists for those), from Robux refund and account-ban complaints, and from the securities class action brought by Roblox shareholders.
Is there a claim form or a class action to join?
No. MDL-3166 is a multidistrict litigation, not a class action. Each family files its own individual lawsuit through an attorney, and the cases are coordinated for pretrial purposes. There is no claim form, no sign-up list, and no fund for individuals.
Do the state settlements pay families?
No. Nevada, Alabama, West Virginia, South Dakota, and Kansas settled their own consumer-protection claims for payments to the states and, in some cases, platform changes such as universal age verification. None of that money goes to any family, and the settlements do not resolve any case in the MDL.
What is the arbitration fight about?
Roblox and Discord have moved to enforce arbitration clauses in their terms of service against families in this litigation, including where the terms were accepted by a young child. In the MDL, both companies filed motions to compel arbitration in the bellwether cases on September 22, 2026, and the court will hear them on January 13, 2027. A California superior court held the clauses unenforceable for a child's exploitation claims under the federal Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act; that ruling is on appeal, and three U.S. senators filed a brief supporting the families in August 2026. Separately, on September 3, 2026, the Ninth Circuit upheld the denial of arbitration in a parent's class action, holding that Roblox waived arbitration by litigating first.
What is Section 230 and why does it matter?
Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act generally shields internet platforms from liability for content posted by their users. Defendants argue it bars these claims. Plaintiffs contend their claims target the platforms' own design decisions, safety representations, and business practices, not user content. No Section 230 ruling has been issued in MDL-3166. In the Iowa attorney general's separate case, a state court held in May 2026 that Section 230 barred content-moderation theories but not claims based on Roblox's own safety statements. In Los Angeles County's case, Judge Dean Kitchens denied Roblox's demurrer and anti-SLAPP motion on September 24, 2026, reportedly finding that Section 230 and the First Amendment do not bar the age-verification claims.
How is this different from the Social Media Addiction MDL?
MDL-3047 (Social Media Adolescent Addiction) concerns addictive design features and mental health harm on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube. MDL-3166 concerns child sexual exploitation and predatory contact facilitated through Roblox and, in many cases, Discord or Snapchat. Different judge, different defendants, different injuries, and separate intake.
Is Roblox still safe for my child to use?
Roblox continues to operate and has made significant changes since the litigation began: age checks have been required to use chat since January 7, 2026, adults cannot contact under-16s by default, and separate Roblox Kids and Select account tiers rolled out globally in June 2026. The allegations in this litigation have not been proven in court. Parents should use the available controls, keep chat settings restricted, and talk with children about contact from strangers.
What damages are plaintiffs seeking?
Private plaintiffs seek compensatory damages for the harm to the child, including the cost of therapy and treatment and the child's emotional injuries, and in many cases punitive damages. There is no settlement of the individual cases and no established per-person value; any dollar range presented as one is an estimate. State cases seek civil penalties and court-ordered changes to the platform.
Sources & References
14 official sources cited• U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, Transfer Order, In re: Roblox Corporation Child Sexual Exploitation and Assault Litigation, MDL No. 3166 (Dec. 12, 2025)
• JPML, MDL Statistics Reports, January through October 2026
• N.D. Cal., No. 3:25-md-03166-RS: Related Case Order (Jan. 5, 2026); Stipulated Direct Filing Order; Notice of Intent to Appoint Settlement Master (Apr. 16, 2026); order appointing the settlement master (June 22, 2026, ECF 358); Roblox's and Discord's motions to compel arbitration (Sept. 22, 2026, ECF 452 and 442) and the briefing and hearing schedule (ECF 421, 429, 462)
• State attorney general releases: Kentucky (Oct. 7, 2025); Florida (Oct. 20, 2025); Tennessee (Dec. 18, 2025); Los Angeles County (Feb. 19, 2026); Nebraska (Mar. 4, 2026); Oklahoma (May 14, 2026); Arkansas (June 22, 2026); Alabama settlement (Apr. 21, 2026)
• Louisiana suit (Aug. 14, 2025) via WAFB; Texas suit (Nov. 7, 2025) via Texas Tribune and trial schedule via Texas Standard (Aug. 17, 2026); Iowa suit (Dec. 16, 2025) via Iowa Capital Dispatch and motion-to-dismiss ruling via Courthouse News (May 14, 2026); Indiana suit via Privacy Daily (May 7, 2026); Los Angeles County demurrer and anti-SLAPP ruling via MyNewsLA and Reuters (Sept. 24, 2026)
• Settlements: Nevada via UPI (Apr. 15, 2026); West Virginia via Claims Journal (Apr. 22, 2026); South Dakota via SDPB (July 13, 2026); Alabama and West Virginia settling before any suit via Reuters (Apr. 21, 2026); Kansas via KCTV5, KMBC, and KSN (Sept. 29, 2026)
• Senators Hawley and Durbin, investigation letter to Roblox (Aug. 12 to 13, 2026); senators' amicus brief via AboutLawsuits (Sept. 14, 2026)
• Courthouse News, Ninth Circuit argument on Roblox arbitration (May 22, 2026) and decision (Sept. 3, 2026; also Law360, Sept. 4, 2026); Levin Law on the San Mateo EFAA ruling (Dec. 5, 2025)
• Roblox Newsroom: age checks announced (Nov. 19, 2025); required globally (Jan. 7, 2026); Kids and Select accounts global (June 16, 2026)
• HarrisMartin, plaintiffs' leadership appointed (Feb. 19, 2026); Marin Murphy MDL-3166 docket tracker (Aug. 2026) for July and August case management orders (secondary; verify on docket)
Data current as of October 2026. Roblox daily active user and revenue figures cited elsewhere on this page are from Roblox investor reports and are not updated monthly.
Attorney Advertising. The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by accessing or using this content.
Every case is unique, and results depend on the specific facts and circumstances involved. Past settlement amounts and case outcomes do not guarantee similar results in your case. If you believe you have a legal claim, you should consult with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction who can evaluate your specific situation.