Roblox says policing virtual world is like 'shutting down speakeasies'

Roblox Chief Scientist Morgan McGuire speaks during the Reuters hosted MOMENTUM event in Austin, Texas, U.S., October 11, 2022. REUTERS/Spencer Selvidge

(Reuters) -As online gaming platform Roblox Corp confronts a lawsuit alleging it enabled a California girl's exploitation, its chief scientist said finding dangerous content in the company's virtual world is nothing like spotting it in video.

"It's such a challenge to moderate 3D," said Morgan McGuire in an interview at the Reuters Momentum conference in Austin on Tuesday. He had no comment on the recent lawsuit but said Roblox was built with safety and civility at the forefront.