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[–] 5 points 1 year ago

The developers behind the mega-popular game Roblox are facing a firestorm of controversy after banning a popular YouTuber from the platform.

The user, known as “Schlep,” worked to expose predators on the Roblox platform after himself being the victim of a developer who allegedly groomed him for years, according to his attorneys.

The law firm says Schlep’s actions led to the arrests of six individuals who had allegedly groomed young users on the platform, but Roblox has now banned him from the platform and served with cease-and-desist letters, according to the firm.

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  • 18 comments in c/technology@lemmy.world view that post
    [+] 21 points 1 year ago (7 children)
  • [–] 17 points 1 year ago* (5 children)

    They wanted to silence him because he was slowly brining attention to the problems. Luckily, that backfired on them, and the message got to everyone.

    I hope whatever executive in charge of the "moderation department" and everyone else up the chain is arrested for this shit either. Nothing will ever change if people can hide behind a business name and face zero consequences.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

    Just for discussions sake, where does vigilantism end, though?

    If this guy wasn’t recording everything and making a youtube channel out of it, I’d be much less interested in asking that question.

    I’m also of the opinion that the tv show COPs was misguided and shouldn’t have existed. None of my opinions here are excuses for predators. I just find packaging up and “selling” the effort to be an indication of conflicting motives. And that makes me inclined to see the companies point about vigilantes, laws about entrapment, or whatever. Etc.

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  • [–] 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

    I agree, in principle vigilantism isn't good for society. It opens the door for, let's say heavily misguided, people to carry out whatever justice they want. Yes, it is also dangerous for the individuals with good intentions.

    However, if the "proper" system does nothing, who will?

    In the case of Roblox, I'm going to compare this to a public park;

    In this park some adults set up a free candy van for kids. The park rangers/owners (moderators) see this, and choose to ignore it. Some other people at the park report their concerns to the rangers, yet a week later they find 3 more vans have shown up.

    Finally, one person steps up and calls the police directly. The police can do nothing with the information, as there's "no evidence". Desperate to stop them, the person disguises them self as a child (don't ask) to get the evidence. Police show up and apprehend the perpetrators.

    The rangers are now angry that the person called the cops to their park, and bans that person from the park for "pretending to be a kid".


    If Roblox is unwilling to participate in the justice system set by society, they have no place in it.

    As for schelps making YT videos, I say keep doing it. Not only does is help spread awareness to issues like this, it documents the "vigilante" actions. Society can decide from there what to do with that information.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago* (1 child)

    I don’t like how recording it and posting it is a get out of jail free card regarding the problems of vigilantism. But I can’t argue against the idea should it keep them honest, and they should be slapped down if they cross red lines.

    It really feels like part of a cyperpunk future. Personal video channels following vigilantes staking the digital play pens for predators.

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  • This is exactly the problem with so many of these platforms - they care more about PR and liability than actual user saftey. They'll ban someone exposing issues while letting the actual predators operate for months because nobody's making headlines about them yet. Classic corporate damage control instead of fixing the root problems.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago

    Just need to point out that the CEO of roblox feels that tech CEOs should decide how the country (USA) is run.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    Just a reminder.

    Roblox is a chatroom disguised as a game. More than half of their user base is over the age of 16.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (6 children)
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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (4 children)

    I’m just not use to seeing internet drama on a local news site.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    this story has actually reached a huge audience around the world with many countries even banning the game over their response.

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  • 4 comments in c/workreform@lemmy.world view that post
    [–] 8 points 1 year ago

    When has Roblox ever not been a piece of shit?

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago

    Corporations care about one thing, and it isn't doing what is right

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago

    Don’t trust anything from OP

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