Madison County Mother Files Child Sexploitation Lawsuit Against Roblox, Discord

Nov 6, 2025 1:25 PM Apr 29, 2026 2:54 PM

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EDWARDSVILLE – A lawsuit filed on behalf of a 14-year-old Madison County boy and his mother alleges the companies behind Roblox and Discord are “accountable for creating breeding grounds for predators.” The suit claims both companies enabled the sexual exploitation of the anonymous teen victim while prioritizing profit over child safety.

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Roblox is an online game platform self-described as “the ultimate virtual universe,” while Discord is a popular online group messaging platform. Both companies (Roblox Corporation and Discord Inc.) are headquartered in the Northern District of California, where the lawsuit was filed.

The victim, identified in the lawsuit as John Doe, was an “avid user” of Roblox and Discord for years, according to a press release submitted on behalf of Dolman Law Group, the law firm representing the victim and his mother.

“Believing there were proper safeguards in place, Doe’s mother allowed her young son to use the online gaming and chat platforms trusting the corporations’ representations of child safety,” the release states. “During her son’s Roblox usage earlier this year, it’s alleged the teen unknowingly encountered a dangerous male predator – masquerading as a peer – who began building trust and grooming Doe while encouraging him to continue their interactions on Discord.”

The predator’s behavior reportedly escalated over Discord, where he began “sending the boy graphic messages and ultimately coercing the minor into sending sexually explicit images of himself.” The lawsuit further alleges the predator “threatened to harm Doe’s family unless he complied with the demands of sending these images, causing the teen to fear for his and his family’s safety.”

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“This case against Roblox is a terrifying reminder of the world we live in where capitalist greed far outweighs humanity,” said Matthew Dolman, Principal of Dolman Law Group. “There have never been sufficient safety measures and protocols in place, putting our youngest and most vulnerable communities into unimaginable harm’s way every second of the day. Without forcing systemic change, Roblox will continue to operate anarchically.”

The lawsuit alleges both apps make misrepresentations about safety to “instill an unfounded sense of safety in guardians and parents when in reality, the design of the platforms make children easy and accessible prey for pedophiles.”

The 14-year-old victim reportedly continues to experience lasting psychological effects from the traumatic events. In addition to becoming severely withdrawn and losing his self-confidence, the victim also experiences intrusive thoughts, anxiety, an enduring sense of humiliation and shame, and a profound loss of safety and innocence, requiring ongoing therapy and counseling to address.

The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified monetary damages from Roblox and Discord for suffering profound harm from the grooming, manipulation and exploitation the victim experienced on the apps.

Dolman Law Group represents individuals in cases against Roblox throughout the United States, with more information available on fileabuselawsuit.com/roblox-lawsuit.

The lawsuit comes just over a month after a South Roxana man was charged with sharing videos depicting child pornography via Discord, and nearly two months after FBI Special Agent Jake Griffin informed Jerseyville community members about the dangers of child exploitation by extremist groups using online platforms like Discord, Roblox, and more.

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