Roblox is facing a wrongful death lawsuit after the suicide of 15-year-old Ethan Dallas, whose mother, Becca Dallas, claims the platform failed to protect her son. The legal action, also targeting Discord, was first reported by The New York Times and could mark a significant moment for the gaming industry.
According to the lawsuit, Ethan took his life four months after confiding in his mother about disturbing interactions with another player, identified as “Nate.” Investigators later suggested that Nate was likely a 37-year-old man named Timothy O’Connor, who had previously been arrested for possessing child pornography and transmitting harmful material to minors.
The lawsuit argues that both Roblox and Discord bear responsibility for failing to safeguard underage users from predators. Dallas alleges that Ethan’s experiences on these platforms directly contributed to his death.
Roblox responds to safety concerns
In a statement, Roblox said the company recognises that child safety challenges affect the wider gaming industry and stressed that it continues to work on stronger protection measures. The spokesperson added that the firm is cooperating with law enforcement in related cases.
The case could be the first wrongful death lawsuit brought against Roblox, a platform with tens of millions of young players worldwide. Legal experts suggest the outcome may set a precedent for how online gaming companies are held accountable for the safety of their communities.
Previous legal action against Roblox
This is not the first time Roblox has come under scrutiny for safety issues. In August, Louisiana’s attorney general, Liz Murrill, filed a lawsuit alleging that Roblox failed to “implement basic safety controls” to protect children using the platform. Around the same time, Florida’s attorney general, James Uthmeier, launched an investigation into reports that children were being exposed to “harmful content and bad actors” on Roblox.
In response to mounting criticism, Roblox has made changes to its platform. These include stricter rules for Experiences and the rollout of its age estimation tool to all users. The company has said these updates are part of ongoing efforts to keep its platform safer for minors.
As the case brought by Becca Dallas moves forward, it is expected to spark debate over the responsibility of online platforms in protecting young users from predators and harmful content.
