The mother of a 15-year-old boy from California who took his own life is suing Roblox and Discord over his death. She claims her son was groomed and forced to send explicit images on the apps.
Rebecca Dallas filed the lawsuit on Friday in San Francisco County Superior Court. She accuses the companies of running their business in a way that led to the sexual exploitation and suicide of Ethan Dallas.
Ethan was described as a “bright, imaginative boy who loved gaming, streaming, and interacting with friends online.” According to the lawsuit, he started playing Roblox at around 9 years old, with his parents’ permission and parental controls in place. When he turned 12, an adult predator posed as a child on Roblox and befriended him, according to Rebecca Dallas’s attorneys.
The conversation, which began innocently, gradually turned to sexual topics and explicit exchanges, the complaint states.
Eventually, the man urged Ethan to turn off the parental controls and move their chats to Discord, the lawyers added.
On Discord, the man increasingly demanded explicit photos and videos, threatening to share them if Ethan did not comply. Out of fear, Ethan went along with his requests, the complaint says.
“Tragically, Ethan was deeply affected and troubled by these experiences, and he died by suicide at the age of 15,” the complaint states. He passed away in April 2024, according to an online obituary.
https://www.fastcompany.com/91405027/roblox-and-discord-sued-teen-suicide-alleged-grooming
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/roblox-discord-sued-15-year-old-boy-was-allegedly-groomed-online-died-rcna231049
