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Roblox, Discord sued after 15-year-old boy was allegedly groomed online before he died by suicide | Ethan Dallas was targeted by an adult sexual predator on Roblox when he was 12, and later on Discord, according to a lawsuit. He took his own life last year.

Ethan Dallas was targeted by an adult sexual predator on Roblox when he was 12, and later on Discord, according to a lawsuit. He took his own life last year.

It argues that had Roblox and Discord taken steps to screen users before allowing them on apps, or implemented age and identity verification and other safety measures, “Ethan would have never interacted with this predator, never suffered he harm that he did, and never died by suicide.” An NBC News investigation in 2023 found 35 cases over the six years prior in which adults were prosecuted on charges of kidnapping, grooming or sexual assault that allegedly involved communications on Discord. “This case lays bare the devastating consequences when billion-dollar platforms knowingly design environments that enable predators to prey on vulnerable children,” said Alexandra Walsh, a partner at Anapol Weiss.

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