Arkansas sues Roblox and Discord over child safety
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Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin speaking in Fayetteville in February. Photo: Worth Sparkman/Axios
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin filed a lawsuit against Roblox and Discord earlier this month, saying the companies designed products that helped predators target children.
Why it matters: The suit takes aim at two popular online platforms used by kids and teens, arguing their design choices created a pipeline for grooming, sextortion and sexual abuse while misleading parents about safety.
Driving the news: Filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, the complaint says Roblox and Discord violated Arkansas public nuisance law, the state's Deceptive Trade Practices Act and an unjust enrichment law.
- Arkansas argues the companies did not merely fail to moderate harmful content but that it made intentional product decisions — including weak age checks, easy account creation, limited parental oversight and tools that made it easier for adults to reach minors.
The state says Roblox served as the point of first contact where predators could pose as children and build trust, while Discord became the place where abuse escalated through private messages, voice chat and servers.
- The complaint says Roblox reported 144 million daily active users, with about 40% under age 13, and it says Discord's own transparency reports showed child-safety violations rose 150% in a single quarter.
The other side: "Roblox is deeply committed to fostering a safe, healthy, and age-appropriate environment for our community," spokesperson Chloe Srivastava said in an email.
- "We strongly dispute the claims in this lawsuit. ... It fundamentally misrepresents how our platform works and fails to recognize the extensive, proactive measures we are taking to set a new standard in online safety."
- Discord's statement said the lawsuit "does not reflect the platform we have built or the investments we have made in user safety," according to the Arkansas Advocate.
What's next: The state is seeking injunctive relief, damages, restitution and the return of profits it says were wrongfully earned from Arkansas users.