Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has taken decisive action, issuing criminal subpoenas to Roblox and calling the platform a “breeding ground for predators” in a public statement and social media video on October 20, 2025. This is not virtue-signaling; it’s a prosecutor doing his job to protect children from an industry that has prioritized growth over safety. Parents and communities deserve to know what these subpoenas will reveal about how predators exploit virtual playgrounds.
Uthmeier’s office says the subpoenas will gather evidence on criminal activity occurring on Roblox, including troubling reports that predators use the platform’s in-game currency to bribe minors into sending explicit material. These allegations follow other investigations and lawsuits alleging the platform failed to stop grooming and the distribution of illicit material to children. Law enforcement tips and criminal cases in multiple states have highlighted how tech companies’ lax safeguards become an open invitation for predators.
Roblox has publicly pushed back, saying it prohibits image and video sharing in chat, uses filters to block personal information, and employs human and automated moderation to protect users while pledging cooperation with investigators. Those corporate assurances ring hollow to many victims’ families and prosecutors who say the reality on the ground tells a different story. Promises of better moderation after headlines are not the same thing as accountability or prosecution when children are harmed.
Conservatives should applaud Uthmeier for putting muscle behind words and demanding answers from a tech giant that has long profited off children’s attention without sufficient safeguards. Independent reporting and prior investigations have repeatedly exposed how platforms can become hunting grounds for predators if left unchecked, and it’s time the company faces real consequences if those problems are confirmed. Big tech’s business model—scale first, safety later—has failed our families, and regulatory teeth are finally being shown.
This isn’t a partisan stunt; it’s a call to action for every parent, prosecutor, and legislator who values the safety of the next generation. Other states and Congress should follow Florida’s lead and demand stronger age verification, mandatory reporting, and meaningful penalties for platforms that enable criminal behavior. James Uthmeier, who has built a reputation as a tough conservative prosecutor, is doing what elected officials were elected to do: protect the vulnerable and hold powerful interests accountable.
