Three US senators argue in court that child sex abuse victims suing Roblox Corp. and Discord Inc. should be allowed to pursue their claims in public, rather than being forced into private arbitration. Bloomberg and GameSpot report that the senators file an amicus brief supporting the idea that victims “deserve their day in court,” citing concerns that arbitration can limit transparency and effective redress.
The senators involved are Democratic lawmakers Dick Durbin, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Richard Blumenthal. They contend that Roblox and Discord use arbitration to avoid accountability and that doing so would undermine the purpose of the 2022 Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (EFAA), which restricts compelled arbitration in certain sexual assault and harassment cases.
Both outlets tie the dispute to ongoing litigation, including a case involving a 13-year-old boy who allegedly encountered a predator via Roblox, then was groomed and coerced into sending lewd materials through Discord. While the reporting focus is consistent—opposing arbitration to keep proceedings public—GameSpot additionally notes recent safety changes and a $12 million effort by Roblox to add features such as facial recognition and age verification.
