A Step Towards Ending Exploitation
PHILADELPHIA, PA – Today, the Joel Bieber Firm’s sexual assault practice filed a federal lawsuit in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on behalf of a Philadelphia-area child victim, alleging that Roblox and Snapchat failed to protect users—particularly minors—from online predators who use their platforms to sexually exploit children.
“Our client, a minor, was targeted and groomed by an adult male predator via Roblox who then coerced the child onto additional platforms, including Snapchat,” said Melissa Hague, attorney, and director of the Joel Bieber Firm’s sexual assault practice. “This adult openly groomed and solicited inappropriate sexual images and videos from the minor over the Roblox and Snapchat platforms.”
This case is about accountability.
The civil suit joins a growing number of high-profile “sextortion” cases that have brought national attention to the alarming trend of predators targeting minors through online gaming and social media platforms. Alleged in the complaint, both Roblox and Snapchat neglected to enforce adequate identification and age-verification systems, ignored data about predators using the platforms to target children, failed to warn children and parents about predatory activity, and misrepresented their platforms as safe and moderated environments.
In this case, the perpetrator was identified through an investigation by Utah law enforcement, who believed he exploited other children using similar tactics. They worked in coordination with authorities in Texas to arrest and extradite him to Utah. He was subsequently prosecuted for crimes against Utah minors, pled guilty and is currently incarcerated there. As a result of their investigation, Utah law enforcement advised the Philadelphia Police Department about a potential local victim; Philadelphia police then alerted the parent of the local victim. Authorities extracted hundreds of sexual images and videos of children from the perpetrator’s devices.
The child victim is not being named in the lawsuit to protect their privacy. The Joel Bieber Firm argues that online platforms should be held accountable under civil law for creating and promoting environments where child sexual abuse material can be produced and disseminated.
These platforms have long known about the dangers but have chosen not to act.
“This case is about accountability,” Hague emphasized. “These platforms have long known about the dangers but have chosen not to act. Instead, predators continue to target and groom young children on these popular online environments that remain rife with risk.”
“Survivors of online child sexual abuse often carry the trauma with them for life,” Hague added. “Our client has shown immense courage in coming forward. We are committed to ensuring they—and others like them—get their day in court.”
The Joel Bieber Firm prides itself on the outstanding and aggressive legal representation we provide our clients. Whether it is a small claim or a multi-million-dollar action, our personal injury attorneys dedicate themselves to our clients, working to ensure the best possible outcome for them. Our attorneys are licensed in the following states: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, West Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The firm has offices located in these cities: Towson, MD, Greenville, SC, Richmond and Virgnia Beach, VA, Tryon, NC, and Philadelphia, PA