Roblox and Discord Face Lawsuit Alleging Online Platforms Led to a Child’s Sexual Exploitation

Woman indicates that while she was still a minor, an adult groomed her using Roblox and Discord to share sexually explicit images through the platforms.

A young Florida woman has filed a lawsuit against Roblox and Discord, claiming the online platforms fail to protect vulnerable users from sexual predators, despite marketing claims that have led parents to believe the apps are safe for children.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by a woman identified only as Jane Doe in Superior Court for the State of California, County of San Francisco on April 21, naming Roblox Corporation and Discord Inc. as defendants.

Discord is an app that allows users to communicate with one another via text, voice and video. It is extremely popular among gamers, by allowing them to create online communities together called “servers.”

Roblox is an online gaming platform that was launched in 2006. It allows players to explore virtual worlds, create their own games, and interact with others, through in-game purchases and customizable avatars.

While Roblox and similar platforms are often marketed as family-friendly, a series of online gaming addiction lawsuits have been filed against these kinds of platforms in recent years, alleging that they employ addictive design features and monetization tactics that disproportionately target children, encouraging excessive in-game purchases and prolonged use.

In addition, a series of Roblox and Discord sexual exploitation lawsuits have been brought against the companies in recent months, alleging that the platforms have fail to implement adequate safeguards to protect children from grooming, harassment and abuse by online predators.

In her complaint, Doe says that she became an avid user of both Roblox and Discord while she was still a minor, stating that her father allowed her to use the platforms due to the companies’ representations that the platforms were safe for children.

However, the lawsuit claims that both Roblox and Discord host and promote sexually explicit content, creating an environment that enables child predators to target vulnerable users.

In Doe’s case, she was contacted by a predator through the Roblox games “MIC UP” and “Write a Letter,” which are both games on the platform in which adults can freely contact children through private messages in the platform’s “Whisper” option.

The predator who contacted Doe claimed to be 14 years old and was able to successfully coerce Doe into sending him sexually explicit videos and images of herself through the Roblox and Discord apps when she was still a minor, blackmailing her with threats if she did not continue sending him explicit material, the lawsuit indicates.

When Doe’s father noticed a shift in his daughter’s personality, he blocked her Discord account and removed her access to Roblox, at which point she tried to physically harm herself, even attempting to take her own life, Doe says.

“Plaintiff has suffered, and continues to suffer, life-altering psychological and emotional injuries, including severe mental anguish and pain, and loss of enjoyment of life,” the complaint states. “Plaintiff has endured, and continues to endure, humiliation, shame, constant and paralyzing fear, and a profound loss of trust, safety, and innocence.”

Doe raises allegations of fraudulent concealment and misrepresentation, negligence, failure to warn, unreasonable design, negligent undertaking, strict liability and design defect against both Roblox and Discord, as well as allegations of negligent misrepresentation against Roblox.

She is seeking past, present and future general damages, special damages, medical expenses and punitive or exemplary damages.