Roblox
Roblox is an online platform which lets users create their own games, as well as all sorts of virtual items for their personal avatars. The platform is owned by the Roblox Corporation.
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2004 |
| Type | Company |
| Industry | Gaming |
| Official website | https://roblox.com/ |
Forced arbitration
Section 11 of the Roblox Terms of Use states that the user, by accepting the terms, waives his right to litigation and must resolve any disputes through Mandatory Informal Dispute Resolution (MIDR).[1] Should MIDR not resolve a dispute, users in the United States must proceed with binding arbitration.
Intentional difficulty of contact
To initiate MIDR in the first place, users in the United States must send a physically written notice by certified mail or through Federal Express. This creates additional steps for the users, which may dissuade them from pursuing a dispute in the first place.
Incidents
Accusations of Child Labor
In January 2022, The Guardian ran a story accused Roblox of profiting off child labor, detailing stories of teenagers being scammed and becoming victims of sexual grooming in communities conveniently off the platform[2]. In October 2022, the first of many lawsuits alleging Roblox enabled a girl's sexual exploitation was filed[3].
Blocking Linux Users
In April 2023, Roblox intentionally blocked Linux users playing the game via Wine, a tool used for running Windows apps on POSIX-compliant operating systems[4].
References
- ↑ https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004647846-Roblox-Terms-of-Use#dispute-resolution-user-roblox
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/games/2022/jan/09/the-trouble-with-roblox-the-video-game-empire-built-on-child-labour
- ↑ https://www.reuters.com/legal/game-company-roblox-enabled-girls-sexual-exploitation-lawsuit-claims-2022-10-05/
- ↑ https://devforum.roblox.com/t/the-new-roblox-64-bit-byfron-client-forbids-wine-users-from-using-it-most-likely-unintentional/2305528/2