Families in Southern California have filed lawsuits against Roblox, alleging that the gaming platform exposed their children to sexual predators. A Los Angeles County mother, known as Mary Doe in court documents, claims her daughter met a predator on Roblox. She argues that Roblox and Discord failed to protect young users from online dangers. “You shouldn’t have to rebuild your life at 13 years old,” Mary Doe said, referring to her daughter’s traumatic experience.
Mary Doe’s lawsuit, filed against both Roblox and Discord, highlights the challenges of keeping children safe online. She initially believed Roblox was a safe platform for her daughter, especially since her older children had used it without issues. However, she noticed changes in her daughter’s behavior, including failing seventh grade, after the girl befriended someone on Roblox who claimed to be a 15-year-old girl. The situation escalated when this person, actually an adult, moved their communication to Discord, where explicit messages and images were shared.
Another family in Riverside is also suing Roblox, alleging their child was lured and assaulted by a man they met on the platform. The family’s attorney, Steven Vanderporten, stated that Roblox has become “a haven for predators.” The man involved in the Riverside case has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Roblox has responded by emphasizing its commitment to safety, stating that it has implemented numerous safety measures, including limiting chat for younger users and employing filters to block personal information sharing. A spokesperson for Roblox told NBC Los Angeles that the company is working to set industry-wide safety standards and is collaborating with law enforcement and child safety organizations.
In a related development, a California judge ruled against Roblox’s attempt to move a similar lawsuit into private arbitration, allowing the case to proceed in court. This decision is seen as a precedent for other families pursuing legal action against the company. ABC News reported that Roblox is facing over 35 lawsuits related to child exploitation claims.
Discord, also named in these lawsuits, is criticized for its lack of parental controls and reliance on users to report harmful content. The Social Media Victims Law Center has filed a class-action lawsuit against Discord, alleging it facilitated the exploitation of minors. The center argues that platforms like Discord and Roblox must implement stronger safeguards to protect young users.
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