# Roblox Accused of Unauthorized 3D Asset Download for AI Training

Canonical URL: https://www.teknalyze.com/news/roblox-3d-asset-download/
Published: 2026-10-27
Updated: 2026-10-27
Author: Aisha Idris
Section: QuickFeed
Categories: QuickFeed, AI
Primary topic: Roblox, Open3DLab, SFMLab, SmutBase
Source: Tom’s Hardware
Source URL: https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/open3dlab-accuses-roblox-of-downloading-145gb-of-3d-assets-for-ai-training-purposes-automated-crawler-ignored-site-rules-to-grab-over-1-000-files-including-adult-content-during-scraping-spree

## Summary

In a recent development, Open3DLab, a community-driven platform for 3D modeling, has accused Roblox Corporation of unauthorized data collection. The platform claims that a web crawler, identified as originating from Roblox, downloaded 145.5 GB of 3D models from their sites, including content marked as adult.

## Key points

- The outcome of this situation could have significant implications for data usage policies in AI development.
- The incident has ignited debates over the ethical use of data for AI training.
- Between October 15 and 16, 2026, Open3DLab, along with SFMLab and SmutBase, reported unusual activity on their websites.

## Why it matters

The outcome of this situation could have significant implications for data usage policies in AI development. It underscores the need for clear guidelines and ethical considerations when collecting and utilizing data from online platforms. Stakeholders are awaiting Roblox’s official response to understand the company’s stance and any potential actions to address the concerns raised.

## Article

In a recent development, Open3DLab, a community-driven platform for 3D modeling, has accused Roblox Corporation of unauthorized data collection. The platform claims that a web crawler, identified as originating from Roblox, downloaded 145.5 GB of 3D models from their sites, including content marked as adult. This incident has sparked discussions about data usage and ethical considerations in AI training.

### The Alleged Data Collection Incident

Between October 15 and 16, 2026, Open3DLab, along with SFMLab and SmutBase, reported unusual activity on their websites. A crawler named “trellis2-data-sourcing/1.0” accessed these platforms, downloading 1,027 files from 712 projects, totaling 145.5 GB. The crawler’s user agent indicated a connection to Roblox, and the associated email address was linked to the company’s domain. Notably, the crawler ignored the sites’ robots.txt files and terms of service, suggesting a deliberate bypass of standard data access protocols.

### Potential Connection to Roblox’s AI Initiatives

The timing and nature of the data collection coincide with Roblox’s ongoing efforts in artificial intelligence. In March 2025, the company introduced Cube 3D, an open-source AI model designed to generate 3D objects from text prompts. This initiative aims to enhance the creation of 3D assets within the Roblox ecosystem. The recent data collection incident raises questions about whether these assets were intended to train or refine such AI models.

### Ethical and Legal Implications

The incident has ignited debates over the ethical use of data for AI training. Open3DLab’s operators express concern that the crawler’s actions may have violated the terms of service and licensing agreements of the original creators. They also highlight the inclusion of adult content in the downloaded data, which could be problematic given Roblox’s predominantly young user base.

This situation mirrors broader industry challenges regarding data usage for AI development. In March 2026, a class-action lawsuit was filed against several tech companies, including Roblox, alleging that millions of works by artists and designers were used without proper attribution or consent to train large-scale generative AI systems.

### Roblox’s Response and Community Concerns

As of now, Roblox has not publicly addressed the allegations. Open3DLab has reached out to the company for clarification but has yet to receive a response. The community remains concerned about the transparency and ethical standards of data collection practices, especially when it involves user-generated content.

### Looking Ahead

The outcome of this situation could have significant implications for data usage policies in AI development. It underscores the need for clear guidelines and ethical considerations when collecting and utilizing data from online platforms. Stakeholders are awaiting Roblox’s official response to understand the company’s stance and any potential actions to address the concerns raised.

## Source

[Tom’s Hardware](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/open3dlab-accuses-roblox-of-downloading-145gb-of-3d-assets-for-ai-training-purposes-automated-crawler-ignored-site-rules-to-grab-over-1-000-files-including-adult-content-during-scraping-spree)