The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is currently investigating Roblox, a popular online game platform, according to a recent Bloomberg report. While the SEC confirmed the existence of an "active and ongoing investigation" referencing Roblox, details remain scarce. The agency cited potential harm to the proceedings as the reason for withholding further information regarding the nature and scope of the investigation. Roblox itself has not yet commented.
This investigation comes amidst previous scrutiny of Roblox. Concerns have been raised regarding the accuracy of its daily active user (DAU) statistics, with accusations of deliberate inflation and a potentially harmful environment for children. Roblox has vehemently denied these allegations, highlighting its commitment to safety and user civility, while acknowledging the possibility of undetected fraud impacting DAU figures. In response to these concerns, Roblox announced significant upgrades to its safety systems and parental controls in 2024.
Additional legal challenges have also targeted Roblox. Lawsuits filed in 2023 alleged misleading claims about the platform's safety and suitability for children. Earlier reports also examined the user-generated content on Roblox and potential exploitation of creators.
Recently, Roblox shares experienced an 11% drop following a DAU report of 85.3 million, falling short of analyst expectations. Roblox CEO David Baszucki emphasized continued investment in the platform's virtual economy, app performance, and AI-driven safety and discovery features.
