Roblox, Discord sued after alleged online exploitation

Roblox faces lawsuit over alleged child spying

Roblox is facing lawsuits after parents claim the popular video game has contributed to allegations of child spying.

A Florida girl was allegedly groomed and sexually exploited on Roblox and Discord, two platforms widely used by children, according to a lawsuit filed in California.

The case comes amid a wave of legal and government pressure aimed at holding tech companies accountable for protecting minors online.

The lawsuit was filed by Anapol Weiss and Girard Sharp on behalf of a Volusia County minor.

‘A young girl has been forever traumatized' 

What they're saying:

Attorneys say the child was first contacted through Roblox, then coerced into sharing explicit content on Discord.

"A young girl has been forever traumatized because of how these platforms are built and operated," said Alexandra Walsh, an attorney for the family. "But this is not just about one child. It’s about the systemic failures of billion-dollar companies that continue to ignore glaring risks to their youngest users."

The legal complaint comes just days after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued a subpoena to Roblox, demanding documents and internal communications related to child safety, age verification, marketing practices, and content moderation.
Roblox confirmed to FOX 11's sister station, FOX 13, that it intends to cooperate with the Attorney General’s Office and shared this statement regarding the lawsuit:

"As a policy, we cannot comment on pending litigation and will respond appropriately through the legal process. With that being said, Roblox is deeply committed to the safety and well-being of our community... We will continue to evolve our safety practices to promote a secure and positive experience for everyone on our platform."

Discord has not yet responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit.

SUGGESTED: Kids with smartphones reported higher well-being than kids without, study finds

Subpoena seeks a wide range of documents

Dig deeper:

Florida’s Roblox subpoena seeks a wide range of documents – from chat moderation procedures and age verification audits to records of abuse reports involving children in Florida. It also demands details on how Roblox markets to kids, including through influencers, social media, and giveaways.

Roblox reports that 40% of its 85 million daily users are under 13. The lawsuit and subpoena both argue the platform has failed to take sufficient steps to protect those young users from exploitation.

Attorneys say the Volusia County case is not just about justice for one child – it’s a call for sweeping reform.

"The momentum is undeniable," said Anapol Weiss shareholder Kristen Feden. "Regulators, law enforcement, and the courts are all zeroing in on the same conclusion: these companies have fallen short in protecting children."