Florida Attorney General Uthmeier told WPBF 25 News his office has encountered additional cases involving alleged predators using Roblox since the state filed its civil lawsuit
Florida lawsuits target Roblox and Discord as officials warn of online predators
Florida Attorney General Uthmeier told WPBF 25 News his office has encountered additional cases involving alleged predators using Roblox since the state filed its civil lawsuit
A suspect accused of kidnapping two teenage sisters from Indiantown after meeting them on Roblox has been extradited back to Martin County, where he is being held without bond, according to jail records.
The case is drawing attention to concerns about online predators and the safety of children using gaming and communication platforms.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said his office is pursuing legal action against Roblox, accusing the company of failing to adequately protect children from predators.
<img src="https://kubrick.htvapps.com/htv-prod-media.s3.amazonaws.com/images/tyler-metelus-0030-68c33f5021199.jpg?crop=1.00xw%3A1.00xh%3B0%2C0&resize=136%3A*" alt="Palm Springs man accused of molesting minor he met on Roblox chat”>
Palm Springs man accused of molesting minor after meeting her on Roblox online chat
“As a dad of now four little ones, somebody that has seen the dangers of predators, the dangers of big tech, I told my team front and center every day we will be protecting kids,” Uthmeier told WPBF.
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Uthmeier said his office has encountered additional cases involving alleged predators using Roblox since the state filed its civil lawsuit.
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“And by the way, since we brought that civil case, we’ve seen dozens of cases of predators going after kids on Roblox, and we’ve arrested them. So with every passing day, it only builds our case and makes it stronger for the courtroom,” he said.
Lawsuits allege grooming across platforms
Within a span of two weeks, two Florida families filed lawsuits against Roblox and Discord, alleging the platforms allowed predators to groom and sexually exploit their children.
The lawsuits allege adults posed as children on Roblox to gain the victims’ trust before moving conversations to Discord, where the abuse escalated.
Sarah Marie Henry, a local advocate with Catch the Wave of Hope, said predators may use gaming platforms to build relationships with children before moving conversations elsewhere.
“A lot of times these predators will move them to an app where they’re able to do a little bit more of sharing like videos and pictures,” Henry said.
Henry said concerns involving gaming apps such as Roblox have become more prominent in recent years. She warned that children may believe they are communicating with someone their own age without knowing who is actually behind the screen.
She urged parents to regularly check their children’s devices, have ongoing conversations about online interactions, and use parental controls as an additional layer of protection.
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“We have to know the dangers and be able to educate ourselves, know that knowledge is power, that it’s not something to be afraid of,” Henry said.
Henry also said technology companies need to do more to protect children, while parents and guardians must remain vigilant.
Roblox and Discord respond
Both companies provided statements to WPBF 25 News addressing online safety and their efforts to protect users.
A Roblox spokesperson said protecting young users remains a priority.
“Protecting young people on Roblox is a top priority, and we’ve built multi-layered safeguards including mandatory age checks, AI-powered monitoring, and strict chat restrictions to help keep kids safe. We continue to strengthen these protections every day,” the spokesperson said.
A Discord spokesperson said the platform uses technology and trained safety teams to identify and remove content that violates its policies.
“Discord is deeply committed to user safety, and we want our communications platform to be the best place for friends to connect before, during and after playing games,” the spokesperson said.
The company said its terms require users to be at least 13 years old and that its safety measures include systems designed to prevent sexual exploitation and grooming.
Discord also pointed to its Family Center, which it said gives parents and guardians tools to help teens have a safer online experience while maintaining privacy.
Henry said online gaming and technology are not going away, making education and continued vigilance essential. She called for stronger protections for children, accountability for technology companies and continued efforts to educate families about online risks.
Catch the Wave of Hope has a list of reen on online safety
