Representatives from the gaming platform Roblox did not show up to testify before a Texas House committee during a Tuesday hearing focused on the safety of children online.
On Roblox, users can play games and participate in interactive experiences created by the company as well as other users. The platform allows users to create and publish their own games.
The company’s absence from the hearing drew criticism from House Speaker Dustin Burrows, who said Roblox should have been present to answer questions about content available on its platform.
“Roblox refused to testify and defend itself at today’s State Affairs committee hearing,” Burrows wrote on X. “One must assume it’s because what is happening on their platform is indefensible.”
Earlier this year, Burrows ordered the House State Affairs Committee to investigate online gaming platforms amid mounting concerns about harmful content targeting minors. He specifically cited a game on Roblox that simulated the 2022 Robb Elementary shooting in Uvalde, which claimed the lives of 19 students and two teachers.
“When I charged the House State Affairs Committee with examining the dangers online gaming platforms pose to minors, I expected Roblox—the very platform at the center of these concerns—to be a serious partner in our work to strengthen protections for Texas children,” stated Burrows. “Instead, Roblox refused to appear publicly before the committee and answer its questions. That refusal speaks volumes. A company that profits from the attention of millions of young users has a responsibility to confront serious questions about their safety, not evade them.”
A Roblox spokesperson defended the platform, stating the company “has a robust multilayered safety system” and shares “Texas lawmakers’ deep commitment to keeping kids safe online.”
“We have submitted detailed written testimony to the Texas House and Senate State Affairs Committees on our industry-leading safeguards and safety policies, and we will continue to engage constructively with policymakers,” the spokesperson told Texas Scorecard.
The hearing comes as Attorney General Ken Paxton continues a lawsuit against Roblox, accusing the company of misleading parents about the platform’s safety and failing to protect children from sexual exploitation and explicit content. The 200-page petition alleges that Roblox markets itself as a safe and family-friendly gaming platform while knowingly facilitating sexual exploitation, grooming, and exposure to explicit content among minors.
“Roblox may have chosen to hide from accountability today, but it cannot hide from the consequences of its continued negligence,” added Burrows. “The Texas House will continue to demand the accountability and action necessary to protect our children.”
The House State Affairs Committee will continue reviewing state laws concerning age verification and parental consent, potential legal liability for platforms and third-party developers, and the impact of federal protections under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act ahead of the next legislative session.
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