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2w ago

Texas House Orders Probe of Roblox Over Uvalde Shooting Simulation

The move signals a push for tougher age checks plus new liability for third-party creators.

Texas lawmakers are investigating Roblox after reports of a game simulating the Robb Elementary School shooting, with potential new laws on the table.
Arthur Grenner, 13, left, Chad Darden, 12, and Steve Yanes, 13, at right, engage with the video game platform Roblox during the Thousand Oaks Teen Center's reopening celebration in Thousand Oaks, California on March 10, 2023.
The Roblox website on a laptop computer arranged in New York, US, on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. Roblox Corp. released earnings figures on November 8. Photographer: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Overview

  • Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows directed the State Affairs Committee on Monday to investigate Roblox and other gaming platforms after a first-person simulation of the Robb Elementary shooting surfaced.
  • Roblox, which disclosed Tuesday that it had removed the Uvalde simulation, said it bans users who upload such content as soon as it is detected.
  • The company outlined safety tools that include AI-powered detection, 24/7 moderation, mandatory age checks, tighter default chat limits for young children, and new Kids and Select account types that restrict under‑16 access to age-appropriate experiences.
  • Lawmakers will examine age verification and parental consent rules for gaming platforms and whether design choices put user engagement ahead of safety.
  • The panel will also weigh civil and criminal liability for third-party developers and state options around federal shields like Section 230, as Roblox faces suits by state attorneys general and recent settlements exceeding $30 million.