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S.D. (Dakota News Now) -A lawsuit settlement between South Dakota and the gaming platform Roblox was announced today
The legal documents, signed July first, aim to protect kids from online predators, while using settlement dollars in ways to benefit children
Attorney General Marty Jackley says it is a three-pronged approach. First of all, it’s about protecting the children. It’s also having a plan in place now with law enforcement, and thirdly, the monetary issue
“Today is an important day to announce what we’re doing to protect kids in South Dakota and a very specific settlement that we have reached with Roblox,” said Jackley
380 million subscribers log into Roblox every month. Some are South Dakotans, whom Attorney General Marty Jackley is stepping in to defend
“Many of us AG’s raised concerns about the platform,” said Jackley. Kids in chat rooms have been specifically targeted. “What was happening with kids on violence, some child exploitation issues.”
Roblex is agreeing to changes, including facial age estimation technology
“The age verification process is being put in place. There are maturity levels ranging from age 9 to 18 that are very significant. There are better parental controls, making it easier,” said Jackley. “Actions that will be put in place and are being put in place to protect our kids.”
Increased security measures on the Roblox platform are just the beginning
“The second, which is really unique to this agreement, and that I hope is a national model, is working with law enforcement on how we can partner with online companies to better protect our kids. And the third is a monetary settlement,” said Jackley
15 million dollars will be awarded to the state of South Dakota. In this first year, funds will go to public service announcements and investigators
“Crimes against Children Task Force,” said Jackley. “We will be working together on education, on the criminal process when bad things happen.”
Years two and three also have funding tagged
“Five million will go to the South Dakota Department of Education. 20% of that 5 million will need to go to after-school programs,” said Jackley
Education Secretary Joe Graves sees how more after-school programs could prevent a child in a chat room from becoming a victim
“That is the time when children go home and have no supervision, and when they get into trouble. So it’s a, it’s a wonderful program to use for that. It’s a very proactive response to this kind of concern,” said Graves
Secretary Graves says the finances may also be used to develop a specific curriculum, which will be determined later. There are no known Roblex platform victims known to Jackley at this time; the gaming platform has been in existence for over a decade
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