Platform Faces Mounting Legal Scrutiny Over Child Safety Allegations from Governmental Bodies
The online gaming platform is currently navigating a significant wave of legal challenges and governmental scrutiny concerning its child safety protocols. In a major development, Los Angeles County filed a lawsuit alleging severe failures in protecting children from sexual content, exploitation, and online predators, claiming the platform has not implemented sufficiently effective moderation and age verification systems. This action was followed by the state of Georgia's Attorney General launching a formal investigation to determine if the company is violating state consumer protection laws and endangering children, issuing a comprehensive Civil Investigative Demand for documents related to safety protocols, abuse reports, and moderation systems. These governmental actions have been consolidated with numerous private lawsuits from families into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in federal court, totaling over 115 cases as of February 2026. The core contention of these lawsuits is that the platform's design, which encourages extensive social interaction, creates vulnerabilities that have been inadequately addressed, allegedly allowing predators to connect with minors. In response, the company has expressed strong disagreement with the allegations, stating its commitment to safety is paramount and that it will cooperate fully with investigations. The company maintains it has invested heavily in robust safety policies, advanced AI-powered moderation, a large team of safety professionals, and works closely with law enforcement, emphasizing that its platform is built with safety at its core. The outcome of these legal battles is being closely watched as it could set significant precedents for how online platforms catering to minors are regulated and held accountable for user safety and content moderation in the future.