[This is a summary of the April 24 story by FOX 13 Tampa Bay]
In a growing legal battle to keep children safe in digital spaces, a Florida teenager and the Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier are each taking on tech giant Roblox, alleging systemic failures in protecting children from online exploitation
“The momentum is undeniable,” says Kristen Feden, shareholder at Anapol Weiss, the firm that represents the Florida teen. “Regulators, law enforcement, and the courts are all zeroing in on the same conclusion: these companies have fallen short in protecting children.”
Florida issued a subpoena against Roblox last week and yesterday sued Snap Inc, the owner of Snapchat. Separately, the Florida Attorney General sued Discord, calling it a “prime hunting ground for predators seeking easy access to children.”
The Florida teen, from Volusia County, sued Roblox and Discord for enabling a predator to sexually exploit her on its platforms.
Together, the lawsuit and the State actions reflect a coordinated push by both private and public sectors to demand accountability from platforms profiting off youth engagement.
“A young girl has been forever traumatized because of how these platforms are built and operated,” said Anapol Weiss shareholder Alexandra Walsh. “But this is not just about one child. It’s about the systemic failures of billion-dollar companies that continue to ignore glaring risks to their youngest users.”
“Anapol Weiss, the firm behind this new case, says it's investigating hundreds more like it including more here in Florida.” said Fox 13 reporter, Matthew McClellan. “They are calling for sweeping changes to protect children on these platforms.”
“This is about real consequences and lasting reform,” added Feden. “We will not stop until these platforms are held accountable for the environments they create.”
Watch the full FOX 13 story here: https://www.fox13news.com/news/florida-family-sues-roblox-discord-after-alleged-online-exploitation
