Roblox under fire for barring YouTuber aiming to disclose platform's pedophiles and warns of potential lawsuits
In a move that has sparked outrage and public criticism, popular YouTuber Schlep has been permanently banned from Roblox, a leading gaming platform, for his efforts to expose and apprehend alleged child predators on the platform.
Schlep, known for his sting operations and undercover investigations, has been a relentless crusader against predators on Roblox. His efforts have led to six arrests and collaborations with law enforcement and groups like Predator Poachers. However, Roblox argues that his methods disrupt their moderation and safety systems, citing violations of their terms of service and accusing him of unauthorized and harmful activities.
The ban has ignited a storm of controversy, with U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna reaching out to Schlep and launching a petition urging Roblox to enhance protections for its young users. The Louisiana attorney general has also sued Roblox over the incident. Schlep has announced plans to countersue, hiring legal representation to fight Roblox's accusations.
Critics have labelled Roblox's stance as hypocritical, given its history of inaction against predators and the CEO's push to introduce 17+ online dating features to the platform. The controversy raises questions about whether a platform on Roblox's scale can afford to dismiss independent actors who aim to protect children, and whether taking a stand against these actors ultimately does more harm than good for Roblox players.
The #FreeSchlep hashtag trended on social media, with notable YouTubers accusing Roblox of punishing someone working to protect children rather than addressing the predator problem on the platform. Supporters argue that Roblox should be collaborating with independent efforts like Schlep's instead of silencing them, warning that this approach damages trust and allows existing problems to fester.
Schlep maintains that he avoids initiating sexual conversations, reports predators promptly, and has repeatedly tried to work with Roblox, but has never been told what the "proper channels" actually are. His team has been responsible for six arrests of predators on Roblox in under a year.
This ongoing conflict exemplifies tensions between corporate moderation policies and independent efforts to police online child safety on gaming platforms. Roblox, with over 380 million monthly active users, many of whom are under 13, finds itself at the centre of this debate, with its response to Schlep raising concerns about its commitment to child safety.
