Roblox's problematic moderation: Difference between revisions
Plasmacticus (talk | contribs) Added more detail to the 'Consumer response' section, detailing the community's response to Schlep facing legal threats. I'm not sure if I cited X properly because the title of the page contains the whole Tweet, which doesn't display fully depending on how long it is, so when my browser had a '...' I also put that. I checked the HTML source code and the title has line breaks, but I decided not to include them. |
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===Arnold Castillo (Feb - Jul 2022)=== | ===Arnold Castillo (Feb - Jul 2022)=== | ||
In February 2022, the lead game developer for the game ''Sonic Eclipse Online'' on Roblox, Arnold Castillo, used the platform to groom an anonymous minor. Months later in May, he coerced the minor into crossing state lines to his property via the service [[Uber]].<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=Jul 29, 2022 |title=New Jersey Man Federally Charged with Enticement of a Minor and Interstate Transportation of a Minor to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/pr/new-jersey-man-federally-charged-enticement-minor-and-interstate-transportation-minor |access-date=Aug 11, 2025 |website=DOJ - Southern District of Indiana Attorney's Office}}</ref> Days after the abduction, the individual was detained and put on trial, and received 2 life sentences and $500k in fines. This occurred after Castillo's extensive history of violating the platform's Terms of Service for the purposes of grooming minors. Both his community and staff released 2 documents<ref>{{Cite web |title=The DoctorRofatnik Archives |url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IBLEag66elaVPs11PimO2t2M0ikCCb67ti_RNYB0MxQ/edit?tab=t.0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.org/details/the-doctor-rofatnik-archives/mode/2up |archive-date=2020-10-26 |access-date=Aug 11, 2025 |website=Google Docs}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Response to your claims |url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a6NozfqgKOLT1882d9xy1QuJzW0TWJXuorvincSI4z8/edit?tab=t.0 |access-date=Aug 11, 2025 |website=Google Docs}}</ref> covering his harmful behavior on both [[Roblox]] and additionally [[Discord]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Sim |first=Ruben |date=Oct 31, 2022 |title=The Roblox Developer Arrested By The FBI |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdDfdlLuAgA |access-date=Aug 11, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] - Ruben Sim}}</ref> Roblox's moderation refused to directly handle the situation, despite the extensive reports, and his arrest compiled with the charges he faced were only successful due to datamining efforts via vigilantes on the platform.<ref name=":4" /> | In February 2022, the lead game developer for the game ''Sonic Eclipse Online'' on [[Roblox]], Arnold Castillo, used the platform to groom an anonymous minor. Months later in May, he coerced the minor into crossing state lines to his property via the service [[Uber]].<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=Jul 29, 2022 |title=New Jersey Man Federally Charged with Enticement of a Minor and Interstate Transportation of a Minor to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/pr/new-jersey-man-federally-charged-enticement-minor-and-interstate-transportation-minor |access-date=Aug 11, 2025 |website=DOJ - Southern District of Indiana Attorney's Office}}</ref> Days after the abduction, the individual was detained and put on trial, and received 2 life sentences and $500k in fines. This occurred after Castillo's extensive history of violating the platform's Terms of Service for the purposes of grooming minors. Both his community and staff released 2 documents<ref>{{Cite web |title=The DoctorRofatnik Archives |url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IBLEag66elaVPs11PimO2t2M0ikCCb67ti_RNYB0MxQ/edit?tab=t.0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.org/details/the-doctor-rofatnik-archives/mode/2up |archive-date=2020-10-26 |access-date=Aug 11, 2025 |website=Google Docs}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Response to your claims |url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a6NozfqgKOLT1882d9xy1QuJzW0TWJXuorvincSI4z8/edit?tab=t.0 |access-date=Aug 11, 2025 |website=Google Docs}}</ref> covering his harmful behavior on both [[Roblox]] and additionally [[Discord]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Sim |first=Ruben |date=Oct 31, 2022 |title=The Roblox Developer Arrested By The FBI |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdDfdlLuAgA |access-date=Aug 11, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] - Ruben Sim}}</ref> Roblox's moderation refused to directly handle the situation, despite the extensive reports, and his arrest compiled with the charges he faced were only successful due to datamining efforts via vigilantes on the platform.<ref name=":4" /> | ||
==='' | ===''State v. Darius Matylewich (Sept. 2023)''=== | ||
In 2023, Darius Matylewich used a combination of Roblox and other social media services to abduct an 11-year-old girl to his property across state lines.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 7, 2025 |title=Bear Man Gets 20 Years In 11-Year-Old’s Abduction |url=https://firststateupdate.com/2025/07/bear-man-gets-20-years-in-11-year-olds-abduction/ |access-date=Aug 12, 2025 |work=1st State Update}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Slocum |first=Jack |date=Jul 8, 2025 |title=Delaware Man Gets Prison Time For Coercing, Kidnapping Wayne 11-Year-Old |url=https://patch.com/new-jersey/wayne/delaware-man-gets-prison-time-coercing-kidnapping-wayne-11-year-old |access-date=Aug 12, 2025 |work=Patch}}</ref> 2 years later, on July 2, 2025, Matylewich was charged with 20 years of incarceration for the coercion and enticement of a minor.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Jul 7, 2025 |title=Delaware Man Sentenced To 240 Months For Coercing 11-Year-Old New Jersey Resident To Travel To Delaware For Sexual Activity |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-de/pr/delaware-man-sentenced-240-months-coercing-11-year-old-new-jersey-resident-travel |access-date=Aug 12, 2025 |website=U.S. Attorney's Office - District of Delaware}}</ref> During the entire incident, Roblox neglected to halt Matylewich's activities on the platform. | |||
===''State v. | ===''State v. Franciou Romelus (Apr 2024)''=== | ||
Francious Romelus was stalking a 14-year-old girl via [[Roblox]] in 2023, eventually attempting to abduct her on April 12, 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Arradondo |first=Briona |date=Apr 24, 2024 |title=Man arrested for stalking, attacking 14-year-old girl he met online: TPD |url=https://www.fox13news.com/news/man-arrested-for-stalking-attacking-14-year-old-girl-he-met-online-tpd |access-date=Aug 12, 2025 |work=Fox 13 News}}</ref> Romelus was charged with aggravated stalking, transmission of harmful material to a minor, among other charges, and received a 30-year sentence. <!-- https://www.casemine.com/judgement/us/64952042744f894966d02a80 | |||
Need to figure out how to properly cite a legal document like this using autocite | |||
Found out about the listed charges from here: | |||
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGWmVi7M1lm/ -->[[Roblox]] moderation again did not prevent, halt, or report the individual to authorities at that time. | |||
===''U.S. v. Daniel Aravena Oliva'' (Aug 2024)< | ===''U.S. v. Daniel Aravena Oliva'' (Aug 2024)=== | ||
In 2024, Daniel Aravena Oliva groomed a 13-year-old girl on the platform across international borders for several months. After flying to the US from Chile, the individual was arrested before he could sexually assault the minor.<ref>{{Cite news |date=Aug 23, 2024 |title=Chilean man arrested in connection with exploitation of 14-year-old girl, Glendora police say |url=https://abc7.com/post/chilean-man-arrested-connection-exploitation-14-year-old-girl-glendora-police-say/15222531/ |access-date=Aug 12, 2025 |work=ABC 7}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Toohey |first=Grace |date=Aug 22, 2024 |title=Chilean man groomed 13-year-old girl he met on Roblox before flying to U.S. to meet her, police say |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-08-22/chilean-arrest-roblox-child-exploitation |access-date=Aug 12, 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> | |||
===''State v. Christian Scribben'' (Feb 2025)< | ===''State v. Christian Scribben'' (Feb-Apr 2025)=== | ||
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'' (Apr 2025)<!--https://www.kget.com/news/crime-watch/man-accused-of-kidnapping-taft-girl-charged-with-7-felonies/ https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/elk-grove/missing-kern-county-child-found-elk-grove-suspected-kidnapper/103-53c26187-7d46-4b43-964a-1010c1bf07c5-->=== | ===''State v. Matthew Naval'' (Apr-Jun 2025)<!--https://www.kget.com/news/crime-watch/man-accused-of-kidnapping-taft-girl-charged-with-7-felonies/ 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 << Most descriptive source thus far https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/national-international/california-man-accused-of-kidnapping-10-year-old-he-met-on-roblox/3807102/-->=== | ||
In 2025, Matthew Naval abducted a 10-year-old girl soon after meeting her on Roblox, with several felony charges. <!-- 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 (Jul 2025) <!-- https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/58931825/Doe_et_al_v_Roblox_Corporation_et_al --> ===<!-- 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. --> | |||
===Florida Attorney-General Subpoena & Multi-State Scrutiny (July 2025)<!--https://www.gamethemedia.com/the-crime-history-of-roblox Following Naval’s kidnapping and Doe litigation, Florida AG James Uthmeier demanded Roblox hand over data on age-verification, moderation logs and abuse reports , warning of legal action if safety promises prove hollow . Several states now coordinate on social-media harms to minors. Why it matters: Regulatory investigations may impose binding safety mandates faster than courts.-->=== | ===Florida Attorney-General Subpoena & Multi-State Scrutiny (July 2025)<!--https://www.gamethemedia.com/the-crime-history-of-roblox Following Naval’s kidnapping and Doe litigation, Florida AG James Uthmeier demanded Roblox hand over data on age-verification, moderation logs and abuse reports , warning of legal action if safety promises prove hollow . Several states now coordinate on social-media harms to minors. Why it matters: Regulatory investigations may impose binding safety mandates faster than courts.-->=== | ||