Roblox's problematic moderation: Difference between revisions
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RuefulSeraph (talk | contribs) Fixed some grammar issues and added a bit of context and elaboration to several sections. Added the term ALLEGED/ALLEGEDLY for active criminal cases so we don't get sued. |
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<!--Message for any fellow editors: I have tried my best to filter this information to be PG-13, however, the information you WILL find regarding Roblox's negligence with their moderation is something that will require taking a break here or there. I personally am desensitized to a lot, but even I have been needing to pause my edits just to recharge. - JamesTDG-->Since [[Roblox]] launched in 2004, its moderation | <!--Message for any fellow editors: I have tried my best to filter this information to be PG-13, however, the information you WILL find regarding Roblox's negligence with their moderation is something that will require taking a break here or there. I personally am desensitized to a lot, but even I have been needing to pause my edits just to recharge. - JamesTDG-->Since [[Roblox]] launched in 2004, both its automated and human aspects of moderation have been problematic for its consumers. Notable issues range from Roblox's obscene chat filter that limit communication on the platform,<ref>{{Cite web |last=u/Gregheffley95 |date=Feb 26, 2021 |title=Roblox censors almost everything |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/roblox/comments/lsxpex/roblox_censors_almost_everything/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619214011/https://old.reddit.com/r/roblox/comments/lsxpex/roblox_censors_almost_everything/ |archive-date=Jun 19, 2023 |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=Mar 7, 2017 |title=Why the hell are numbers censored! |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/roblox/comments/5y0w3z/why_the_hell_are_numbers_censored/ |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] - r/Roblox}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=JParty |date=Feb 24, 2017 |title=Updates to Chat Privacy API + New Account Indicators + Changes to Text Filtering APIs |url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/updates-to-chat-privacy-api-new-account-indicators-changes-to-text-filtering-apis/33867 |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |website=Roblox Dev Forum}}</ref>, inconsistent enforcement of guidelines, and the indirect encouragement of illegal behaviors on the platform intended for young audiences.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schlep |date=Jan 9, 2024 |title=this simulator should NOT be on roblox... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMdacOJxmjU |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schlep |date=Apr 14, 2024 |title=Roblox Needs to BAN These Games... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE3FeYfJOhw |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
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Christian Scribben on multiple accounts used Roblox to coerce minors and their younger siblings to produce CSAM. Scribben was arrested in April and tried as an adult.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 2, 2025 |title=Ocala teen jailed for exploiting children he met on video game |url=https://www.ocala-news.com/2025/05/02/ocala-teen-jailed-for-exploiting-children-he-met-on-video-game/ |access-date=Aug 12, 2025 |work=Ocala News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hogan |first=Brandon |date=Apr 30, 2025 |title=17-year-old arrested in Marion County, accused of sexually exploiting children on Roblox |url=https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2025/04/30/17-year-old-arrested-in-marion-county-accused-of-sexually-exploiting-children-on-roblox/ |access-date=Aug 12, 2025 |work=Click Orlando}}</ref> On the day of Scribben's arrest, the Florida AG James Uthmeier subpoenaed Roblox regarding its marketing material, citing an excess of reports of children being exposed to “graphic or harmful material” while using the platform.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Uthmeier |first=James |date=Apr 16, 2025 |title=Attorney General James Uthmeier Fights to Protect Children Online; Subpoenas Roblox for Child-Protection Policies and Procedures |url=https://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrelease/attorney-general-james-uthmeier-fights-protect-children-online-subpoenas-roblox-child |access-date=Aug 12, 2025 |website=Florida Office of Attorney General}}</ref> | Christian Scribben on multiple accounts used Roblox to coerce minors and their younger siblings to produce CSAM. Scribben was arrested in April and tried as an adult.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 2, 2025 |title=Ocala teen jailed for exploiting children he met on video game |url=https://www.ocala-news.com/2025/05/02/ocala-teen-jailed-for-exploiting-children-he-met-on-video-game/ |access-date=Aug 12, 2025 |work=Ocala News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hogan |first=Brandon |date=Apr 30, 2025 |title=17-year-old arrested in Marion County, accused of sexually exploiting children on Roblox |url=https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2025/04/30/17-year-old-arrested-in-marion-county-accused-of-sexually-exploiting-children-on-roblox/ |access-date=Aug 12, 2025 |work=Click Orlando}}</ref> On the day of Scribben's arrest, the Florida AG James Uthmeier subpoenaed Roblox regarding its marketing material, citing an excess of reports of children being exposed to “graphic or harmful material” while using the platform.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Uthmeier |first=James |date=Apr 16, 2025 |title=Attorney General James Uthmeier Fights to Protect Children Online; Subpoenas Roblox for Child-Protection Policies and Procedures |url=https://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrelease/attorney-general-james-uthmeier-fights-protect-children-online-subpoenas-roblox-child |access-date=Aug 12, 2025 |website=Florida Office of Attorney General}}</ref> | ||
===''State v. Matthew Naval'' (April to June 2025)<!-- | ===''State v. Matthew Naval'' (April to June 2025)=== | ||
<!--https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/elk-grove/missing-kern-county-child-found-elk-grove-suspected-kidnapper/103-53c26187-7d46-4b43-964a-1010c1bf07c5 https://www.yahoo.com/news/10-old-california-girl-made-133027400.html--> | |||
Matthew Macatuno Naval allegedly abducted a 10-year-old girl soon after meeting her on Roblox,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Girl was kidnapped by man who messaged her on Roblox, officials say. 10-year-old found safe |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-04-16/girl-10-allegedly-kidnapped-by-man-who-messaged-on-roblox |website=Los Angeles Times |date=2025-04-16 |access-date=2025-08-18 |url-status=live |first=Kaitlyn |last=Huamani |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819041136/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-04-16/girl-10-allegedly-kidnapped-by-man-who-messaged-on-roblox |archive-date=2025-08-19}}</ref><ref name=":46">{{Cite web |title=California man accused of kidnapping 10-year-old he met on Roblox |url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/national-international/california-man-accused-of-kidnapping-10-year-old-he-met-on-roblox/3807102/ |website=NBC San Diego |date=2025-04-17 |first=Viola |last=Flowers |access-date=2025-08-18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819041723/https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/national-international/california-man-accused-of-kidnapping-10-year-old-he-met-on-roblox/3807102/ |archive-date=2025-08-19}}</ref><ref name=":47">{{Cite web |title=Elk Grove man accused of kidnapping missing child after meeting her on Roblox |url=https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/elk-grove/missing-kern-county-child-found-elk-grove-suspected-kidnapper/103-53c26187-7d46-4b43-964a-1010c1bf07c5 |website=ABC 10 |date=2025-04-14 |access-date=2025-08-18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819043626/https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/elk-grove/missing-kern-county-child-found-elk-grove-suspected-kidnapper/103-53c26187-7d46-4b43-964a-1010c1bf07c5 |archive-date=2025-08-19}}</ref> and he was charged with one count of kidnapping, one count of kidnapping a child under 14 to commit sex acts, two counts of committing sex acts with a child under 14, one count of showing sexual content to a minor, and two counts related to contacting a minor with the intent to commit a sex act.<ref name=":48">{{Cite web |title=Man accused of kidnapping Taft girl held on $1.35M bail |url=https://www.kget.com/news/crime-watch/man-accused-of-kidnapping-taft-girl-charged-with-7-felonies/ |website=KGET.com |date=2025-04-18 |first1=Jason |last2=Kotowski |first2=Jenny |last2=Huh |access-date=2025-08-18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819043054/https://www.kget.com/news/crime-watch/man-accused-of-kidnapping-taft-girl-charged-with-7-felonies/ |archive-date=2025-08-19}}</ref> According to police, the survivor was found in a car at an Elk Grove strip mall over 250 miles from her home in Taft, and police returned her to her family.<ref name=":46" /><ref name=":47" /> Representing the severity of the charges against Naval, his bail was listed at about US$1.35 million.<ref name =":48" /> | |||
<!--To be filled in more later, this is a crazy rabbit hole, check sources in above comment if you want to fill it in yourself.--> | <!--To be filled in more later, this is a crazy rabbit hole, check sources in above comment if you want to fill it in yourself.--> | ||
===Doe et al v. Roblox Corporation et al (July 2025)< | ===Doe et al v. Roblox Corporation et al (July 2025)=== | ||
The suit Doe et al v. Roblox Corporation et al, filed on July 9, 2025, is an ongoing product liability suit where the plaintiffs are two anonymous individuals and the defendants are Roblox Corporation and [[Discord|Discord, Inc.]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Doe et al v. Roblox Corporation et al |url=https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/58931825/Doe_et_al_v_Roblox_Corporation_et_al |website=PacerMonitor |date=2025-07-09 |access-date=2025-08-18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819035355/https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/58931825/Doe_et_al_v_Roblox_Corporation_et_al |archive-date=2025-08-19}}</ref> The main complaints in the original file were: | |||
<blockquote> | |||
(1) Fraudulent Concealment and Misrepresentations<br /> | |||
(2) Negligent Misrepresentation<br /> | |||
(3) Negligence — General<br /> | |||
(4) Negligence — Failure to Warn<br /> | |||
(5) Negligence — Unreasonable Design<br /> | |||
(6) Negligent Undertaking<br /> | |||
(7) Strict Liability — Design Defect<br /> | |||
(8) Strict Liability — Failure to Warn<ref>{{Cite web |title=Case 3:25-cv-05753-LB |url=https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/filings/DWCGRGFI/Doe_et_al_v_Roblox_Corporation_et_al__candce-25-05753__0001.0.pdf |website=Pacermonitor |date=2025-07-09 |first=Paige |last=Boldt |access-date=2025-08-18 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819035429/https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/filings/DWCGRGFI/Doe_et_al_v_Roblox_Corporation_et_al__candce-25-05753__0001.0.pdf |archive-date=2025-08-19}}</ref> | |||
</blockquote> | |||
<!--Due to a lack of news sources covering this lawsuit, I cannot access any of the necessary information regarding this case. The site which mentioned this lawsuit was too brief about it.--> | <!--Due to a lack of news sources covering this lawsuit, I cannot access any of the necessary information regarding this case. The site which mentioned this lawsuit was too brief about it.--> | ||
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==Consumer response== | ==Consumer response== | ||
Users such as Schlep | Users such as Schlep turn to vigilantism due to the negligence of the platform's own moderation teams.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schlep |date=Feb 7, 2024 |title=I Caught a Roblox PREDATOR in this game... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQMSc-9jGMQ |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> In response to [[Roblox|Roblox's]] submission of a cease and desist notice to Schlep,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-09 |title=Schlep on X: "Every account I've ever made on Roblox has been terminated... |url=https://x.com/RealSchlep/status/1954101415564951680 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name=":02" /> the platform was condemned by the community and California 17<sup>th</sup> Congressional District Representative Ro Khanna,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Horetski |first=Dylan |date=Aug 13, 2025 |title=Congressman steps in after Roblox threatens to sue & bans “predator hunter” YouTuber Schlep |url=https://www.dexerto.com/youtube/congressman-steps-in-after-roblox-threatens-to-sue-bans-predator-hunter-youtuber-schlep-3237759/ |access-date=Aug 13, 2025 |work=Dexerto}}</ref> and consumers promoted a hashtag #FreeSchlep in an attempt to get Schlep's account reinstated.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-11 |title=Schlep on X: "wow its trending again. 3 days in a row now I was lowkey ... |url=https://x.com/RealSchlep/status/1954982451350008298 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=X}}</ref> The movement also received support from popular Roblox YouTuber KreekCraft.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-09 |title=KreekCraft on X: "Roblox Schlep situation" / X |url=https://x.com/KreekCraft/status/1954215182311297365 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-10 |title=Roblox Banned Schlep - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKOYXcYmxow |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=YouTube}}</ref> Furthermore, Roblox outlawed vigilante groups on their platform,<ref name=":12" /> causing vigilante group RoCatchers, a predator-catching group, to disband.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-09 |title=RoCatchers on X: "We sadly have to disband what we're doing on here. ... |url=https://x.com/RoCatchers/status/1954221211581301201 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=X}}</ref> | ||
The platform's poor moderation choices also led to the formation of the subreddit [https://www.reddit.com/r/ROBLOXBans/ r/ROBLOXbans], which has extensive posts covering the platform both ignoring mature content and excessively punishing users over minor or absurd infractions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=r/ROBLOXBans |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/ROBLOXBans/wiki/index/ |website=[[Reddit]] |access-date=2025-08-18 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250424112358/https://www.reddit.com/r/ROBLOXBans/wiki/index/ |archive-date=2025-04-24}}</ref> | The platform's poor moderation choices also led to the formation of the subreddit [https://www.reddit.com/r/ROBLOXBans/ r/ROBLOXbans], which has extensive posts covering the platform both ignoring mature content and excessively punishing users over minor or absurd infractions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=r/ROBLOXBans |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/ROBLOXBans/wiki/index/ |website=[[Reddit]] |access-date=2025-08-18 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250424112358/https://www.reddit.com/r/ROBLOXBans/wiki/index/ |archive-date=2025-04-24}}</ref> | ||