A group of bipartisan senators initiated an investigation into the gaming platform Roblox this week. They expressed concerns about explicit content on the platform and its potential links to real-world child abuse.

Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) sent a letter to Roblox CEO David Baszucki on Wednesday. The letter informed him that the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism had opened a child safety investigation into the company.

You portray Roblox as a safe digital playground for children as young as five, the senators noted. Yet, the public record raises serious questions about this promise of safety.

Roblox has faced scrutiny regarding its child safety practices lately. This includes criticism of the company’s age verification methods and content moderation. Several states have sued the company, alleging a lack of sufficient oversight exposes children to abusive or sexual content on the platform.

The lawmakers referenced reports alleging predators have used Roblox to reach minors and commit violent acts. These acts include grooming, kidnapping, and rape, or sharing sexually explicit material.

Roblox seems to prioritize revenue and engagement over the safety and well-being of our children. The alleged criminal activity on Roblox warrants congressional scrutiny, wrote Hawley and Durbin.

The senators directed Roblox to preserve its records and listed more than a dozen document requests from the company.

Matt Kaufman, the chief safety officer for Roblox, stated on Friday that the platform is “built on the foundation of safety.” Kaufman added, “We do not compromise on that commitment. We look forward to sharing the facts about how we work to protect children on the platform.”

Earlier this year, Roblox implemented several changes to enhance protections for its child users. These changes include new age verification methods using age estimation technology and government-issued IDs.