Roblox Sued for Wrongful Death After Teen’s Suicide Linked to Online Predator

Roblox Hit with Wrongful Death Lawsuit Following a Teen Player’s Suicide

In a potentially landmark case, Becca Dallas has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against popular gaming platform Roblox and communication app Discord. The suit follows the tragic suicide of her son, Ethan Dallas, and alleges that the platforms bear responsibility for his death.

As initially reported by The New York Times, the lawsuit details Ethan’s disturbing interactions with another player known as “Nate.” It’s believed that Nate was actually Timothy O’Connor, a 37-year-old man who had a prior arrest for possessing child pornography and transmitting harmful material to minors. Ethan reportedly confided in his mother about these incidents four months before he took his own life.

This legal action could be groundbreaking for Roblox, as it directly attributes blame to the gaming giant, which boasts tens of millions of underage players. In response, a Roblox spokesperson acknowledged that child safety is an industry-wide concern, stating the company is actively developing new safety features and cooperating with law enforcement.

This isn’t the first time Roblox has faced scrutiny over its safety measures for young users. Last August, Louisiana’s attorney general, Liz Murrill, filed a lawsuit accusing Roblox of failing to implement “basic safety controls” to protect its underage user base. This followed a similar investigation launched by Florida’s attorney general, James Uthmeier, who sought answers regarding reports of Roblox exposing children to “harmful content and bad actors.”

In an effort to address these serious allegations, Roblox has taken some steps, including tightening restrictions on its user-created “Experiences” and expanding its age estimation tool to all users. However, these lawsuits highlight the ongoing challenges and responsibilities faced by platforms popular with children.