Latest news with #RobloxCorporation
The Independent
6 hours ago
- The Independent
Roblox CEO called on to resign after sending cease and desist letter to online ‘predator hunter'
Roblox 's chief executive is facing a wave of fury after his company sent a cease and desist letter to a YouTuber known for exposing alleged child predators on the online gaming platform. The Roblox Corporation reportedly issued a legal complaint last week to a 22-year-old content creator known as 'Schlep,' who revealed this in a YouTube video. The chief executive of the platform is founder David Baszucki. Sharing the full cease and desist letter on X, the company's lawyers cited violations such as simulated child endangerment and sharing personal information. They argued that such actions bypassed official moderation channels. Schlep, a self-styled 'predator hunter' who has over 767,000 YouTube subscribers, had all associated Roblox accounts terminated in the high-profile conflict with the company. In return, Schlep, who claims his investigations led to six arrests of individuals attempting to groom minors on Roblox, accused the company of repeatedly ignoring evidence presented by him and other vigilante streamers. In his video, Schlep alleges that his motivations stem from personal experience having been groomed as a child on the platform, which he said led to a suicide attempt. The Independent has approached Schlep for comment and to seek verification of his claims. Schlep also claimed that Baszucki blocked him on X. Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna has launched an online petition against Roblox, accusing the platform of insufficient child safety measures. He hopes to garner one million signatures by Friday. 'Roblox is simply not doing enough to protect our kids, to inform parents, and to go after child predators,' Khanna said in a TikTok video. After Roblox's legal threat, Schlep reached out to Republican Senator Ted Cruz on X and then by email on Monday, advocating for political attention to the company's safety policies. Schlep argued that the platform's alleged negligence toward protecting young players had already been the subject of lawsuits in Texas. It was not immediately clear whether Cruz's office responded. The incident has sparked widespread backlash, reigniting debate over platform moderation versus vigilante actions, with critics accusing Roblox of hypocrisy and placing legal threats above child safety. Campaigns such as '#FreeSchlep' and '#BoycottRoblox' have gained traction, supported by major creators like MoistCr1TiKal and JiDeon. A petition calling for Baszucki to 'fix what he's caused or resign' had more than 48,000 signatures by Thursday morning. Another video citing the petitions for the Roblox CEO's resignation surpassed 1.2 million views on YouTube. After the wave of backlash, Roblox Corporation released a statement on Wednesday explaining why it removed vigilante groups from the platform, without explicitly naming Schlep. 'While seemingly well-intentioned, the vigilantes we've banned have taken actions that are both unacceptable and create an unsafe environment for users,' it said. 'Similar to actual predators, they often impersonated minors, actively approached other users, then tried to lead them to other platforms to have sexually explicit conversations.' Roblox said that while most chats between its more than 111 million daily active users are 'safe and civil,' there are 'bad actors' that attempt to evade its moderation system. The company emphasized that reporting through official channels is safer and more effective than vigilante actions.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Roblox suspends YouTuber RealSchlep's account after viral predator catch operation, says he is being punished for it
YouTuber RealSchlep, 22, says Roblox has shut down his account and issued a cease-and-desist letter over his videos exposing alleged predators in the game. He claims the ban was enforced under the platform's new clause on 'vigilante groups' in its Terms of Service. In the letter, which Schlep shared online, Roblox stated: 'We write on behalf of Roblox Corporation. This letter serves as a formal cease and desist notice regarding your unauthorized and harmful activities on the Roblox platform. Your actions are a violation of Roblox policies and directly undermine Roblox's safety efforts and, critically, are exposing our users to increased risk.' Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 4 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 3 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals By Vaibhav Sisinity View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 2 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass Batch-1 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Roblox accused Schlep of staging child-endangerment chats, posting identifiable information, and moving conversations off-platform. The company acknowledged his stated aim of protecting children but said failing to report through official channels 'actively interferes with [its] established safety protocols.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute Navy Quest 'Roblox is committed to aggressively combating illegal and harmful conduct, including child exploitation , through a dedicated and sophisticated team of safety professionals, advanced moderation systems, and partnerships with law enforcement agencies,' the letter read. Appeal to a Senator The day after the ban, Schlep publicly appealed to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz on X. 'I live in Texas. Could I have a 5 minute conversation with you about Roblox I've gotten 6 predators across the country arrested from it, yet they sent ME a cease & desist. I was groomed on Roblox as kid by a child predator. There's been lawsuits in Texas right now regarding Roblox's negligence towards child safety . I would love to get in touch, I'll be sending an email as well to your office,' he wrote. Live Events Public outrage News of the ban drew strong reactions from Roblox players and parents. One person posted: 'Time to cancel @Roblox we don't support companies or people who protect pedos.' Another wrote: 'Roblox protecting predators over the people exposing them is actually insane like what are we even doing anymore.' A third said: 'A gaming platform banning someone from exposing child predators? Every parent should know to ban this game.' Schlep built a large following by posing as underage players in Roblox chat rooms to lure out suspected predators, filming the encounters for YouTube. He says his work has led to multiple arrests in different U.S. states. Roblox maintains that his methods disrupted its moderation systems and increased risks to players. Fellow creator speaks out Popular Roblox content creator KreekCraft voiced his support for Schlep in a livestream. 'I think overall, you know, knowing him and knowing the team that's kind of like around him and like behind him, along with like some of the other YouTubers, right? Like, JiDion... but you know, knowing these people, it's like, they're not maliciously doing this. They don't have malicious intent. They're doing this because Roblox is failing to do their job, right?' KreekCraft argued that while no platform can eliminate all harmful behaviour, Roblox should act faster against known threats instead of pursuing people highlighting safety issues. Roblox is one of the world's largest hubs for user-generated games, attracting millions of daily users, many of them children. Its open design has been key to its growth but also makes it vulnerable to predatory behaviour. Critics argue that community investigators like Schlep exist because the platform's moderation tools have not kept pace with its size. The Schlep ban has reignited debates over how online platforms balance safety with community action, and whether creators should step in when official systems fall short. For now, his account remains closed, the legal warning stands, and the questions around Roblox's handling of child safety remain unresolved.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Roblox suing Schlep? YouTuber claims he was banned for exposing predators, received cease-and-desist
YouTuber RealSchlep, known for exposing alleged child predators within the game Roblox, says the platform has banned his account and sent him a cease-and-desist letter threatening legal action. Schlep says Roblox has banned his account.(X/ RealSchlep) In a series of posts on X, the 22-year-old claimed Roblox cited its newly added 'vigilante groups' clause in its Terms of Service as the reason for the ban. According to him, the platform accused him of violating its safety protocols. The alleged letter from Roblox reads in part: 'We write on behalf of Roblox Corporation. This letter serves as a formal cease and desist notice regarding your unauthorized and harmful activities on the Roblox platform. Your actions are a violation of Roblox policies and directly undermine Roblox's safety efforts and, critically, are exposing our users to increased risk.' Roblox added that while it recognizes Schlep's intention to protect children, his failure to report suspicious activity through official channels 'actively interferes with [its] established safety protocols." 'Roblox is committed to aggressively combating illegal and harmful conduct, including child exploitation, through a dedicated and sophisticated team of safety professionals, advanced moderation systems, and partnerships with law enforcement agencies," the letter states. Following the letter, Schlep publicly appealed to Senator Ted Cruz on X. 'I live in Texas. Could I have a 5 minute conversation with you about Roblox I've gotten 6 predators across the country arrested from it, yet they sent ME a cease & desist. I was groomed on Roblox as kid by a child predator. There's been lawsuits in Texas right now regarding Roblox's negligence towards child safety. I would love to get in touch, I'll be sending an email as well to your office,' he wrote. Reactions The situation has sparked widespread support for Schlep online. One person wrote, 'Time to cancel @Roblox we don't support companies or people who protect pedos.' Another added, 'Roblox protecting predators over the people exposing them is actually insane like what are we even doing anymore.' A third person wrote, 'A gaming platform banning someone from exposing child predators? Every parent should know to ban this game.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Who is Schlep? Roblox YouTuber gets account banned after catching alleged child predators live on stream
(Image via @RealSchlep/YouTube & Roblox Corporation) Schlep, a YouTuber who built his online following by hunting alleged 'predators' inside Roblox, is now in the headlines for a very different reason. The 22-year-old creator's Roblox account has been terminated, and he says the gaming giant has sent him a cease and desist letter threatening possible legal action. YouTuber behind viral predator stings loses Roblox account overnight On August 10, 2025, Schlep took to X (formerly Twitter) to reveal that his Roblox account was gone. Alongside the announcement, he posted screenshots of what he says is a cease and desist notice from Roblox Corporation accusing him of 'unauthorized and harmful activities' on the platform. The letter accused him of violating Roblox's rules by engaging in staged child-endangerment chats, posting identifiable information, and moving conversations off-platform. Schlep's videos, popular on YouTube, often showed him posing as minors to bait adults attempting inappropriate contact. He claims his work has helped lead to six arrests across the United States. Roblox, however, said the methods crossed the line, arguing they interfered with official safety measures. Roblox says 'good intentions' don't override safety rules In the notice, Roblox reportedly acknowledged that Schlep's stated goal was protecting children. However, the company argued that his methods disrupted its own moderation and safety systems, potentially increasing risk for players. The letter stated that failing to report suspicious activity through official Roblox channels was a violation, one that, in the company's view, exposed users to harm. The termination, it said, was in line with its community standards, and it warned that further violations could lead to legal action. Schlep takes his fight to Senator Ted Cruz Less than 24 hours later, Schlep's story took another turn. On August 11, he tagged U.S. Senator Ted Cruz in a public post, asking for a conversation about Roblox and child safety. In the message, Schlep identified himself as a Texas resident and said he was a victim of grooming on Roblox as a child. He argued that the platform's negligence toward protecting young players had already been the subject of lawsuits in Texas. He also claimed that despite his own efforts leading to multiple arrests, Roblox targeted him instead of addressing the root problem. A viral flashpoint for gaming, safety, and free speech Schlep's situation has become one of the most talked-about Roblox controversies of the year. His fans see a whistleblower punished for protecting kids; Roblox sees a rogue actor bypassing safety systems. For now, his account remains closed, the legal warning stands, and the community is left wondering whether this is the end of his Roblox career — or the start of an even bigger fight. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Roblox bans predator catcher Schelp after 6 arrests, creator reveals his suicide attempt linked to grooming on platform
Roblox Corporation has sent a cease and desist letter to a creator known as Schelp, who was recognised for confronting alleged predators on the platform. In the letter, Roblox accuses Schelp of engaging in multiple violations of its Terms of Use and Community Standards, including 'simulated child endangerment conversations', 'soliciting or sharing personally identifiable information', and 'encouraging users to move conversations off-platform'. Roblox stated that such conduct bypassed their safety systems and 'increased risks to users'. Schelp's video regarding Roblox's cease and desist letter After he was banned from Roblox, the creator took to his YouTube account, which has over 500k subscribers, to share the news with his fans. Schelp opened his message with urgency: 'This video isn't going to be your typical video… This is actually a call for help, and I need everybody to share this video.' He revealed that The Roblox Corporation sent him a cease and desist letter, threatening litigation against him—a 22-year-old—despite him and his team having gotten six predators arrested from within the Roblox community in the past year. According to Schelp, 'Almost all of them have admitted to doing this before to other Roblox users.' Yet, instead of working with him, Roblox has terminated every account he's had since he was eight years old, including ones actively used to communicate with suspects. 'What Roblox did could potentially stop some predators from facing real-life consequences.' Schelp explained that Roblox accused him of 'engaging in simulated child endangerment conversations.' He countered this, noting that in predator-catching work, decoys play naive kids and avoid initiating sexual talk to prevent entrapment: 'Predators are supposed to be the ones talking sexually to you…' So they teach us about this stuff.' Most chat logs, he emphasised, were on Discord — not Roblox. Roblox also accused him of 'sharing or soliciting personally identifiable information.' Schelp questioned if they meant his practice of turning over predators' details to police: 'Like, does Roblox understand that?' One of the most insulting claims, in Schelp's view, was that he wasn't reporting people quickly enough or to the right outlets: 'Tell me the right outlets. I have been trying to figure this out for, like, a year now.' He cited an example of a Roblox user known as Nepali Incel, who made credible threats to the Las Vegas Sphere in a Roblox game — something Schelp reported both to Roblox and the FBI. Yet, according to him, Roblox never banned that user. Schelp described how he normally reports predators: through Roblox's moderation ticket system, providing the same Google Drive of evidence given to police. But Roblox often fails to act even after felony arrests, leaving him to escalate cases to the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children or the media. He also shared a deeply personal reason for his mission: as a child, he was groomed on Roblox by a popular developer. 'He manipulated me… exposed me to gore and not safe for work material… It was so bad that I actually made an attempt.' His mother contacted Roblox at the time, but they brushed her off, and the predator continued abusing others for years before being banned. Over time, Schelp became increasingly critical of Roblox's leadership. He accused them of ignoring arrests until public pressure forced action, blocking him on social media, and allowing problematic games such as Public Bathroom Simulator and Dollhouse Roleplay. He said, 'Explain to me that Roblox, a kids' platform, now has a whole community of lollicons and MAPs on your platform.' In one recorded confrontation, Schelp addressed a Roblox developer: 'We're about to do the wipe on his phone. We're going to get rid of the pornography on your phone, right?''Okay.''How many images do you think we have to get rid of on your phone?''About like 30 or 40.''And what's the game coming out that you've got on Roblox soon?''Undertale'. Schelp concluded with a plea: 'I'm just trying to stop what happened to me when I was a kid from happening to other people… The most important thing we can all collectively do right now is share what is going on with Roblox.' He encouraged supporters to visit to help fund his work and reiterated, 'I have no plans of revisiting the platform…' I will not be going back on the site.' Cease and Desist letter breakdown The letter acknowledged Schelp's stated intention to safeguard children but criticised his methods. Roblox noted that he failed to 'immediately report suspicious activity' via official reporting tools and instead conducted independent sting operations that, according to the company, 'undermined established safety protocols.' Roblox argued that such actions exposed users to greater harm and interfered with their ability to investigate cases properly. The company reaffirmed that they employ a dedicated moderation team and use automated systems to detect harmful behaviour 24/7. Roblox also reiterated that it has direct reporting partnerships with law enforcement and child safety organisations to ensure swift, official responses to threats. Full legal cease and desist notice from Roblox to me. Schelp's personal history and Roblox's prior communication with his family Schelp has publicly shared that he was once a victim of grooming on Roblox, an experience that left him deeply traumatised and even led to a suicide attempt. He has stated that this personal history is what drives his current actions. Following that incident, Schelp's mother received an email from Roblox expressing concern for his wellbeing. The message offered crisis intervention resources, including links to suicide prevention hotlines, and reassured the family that Roblox takes such matters seriously. It encouraged the use of official reporting tools to flag harmful behaviour and explained that moderators are available around the clock to act on credible reports. This is an email my mom got from Roblox after I made a suicide attempt after being groomed by a predator for years. I was in the hospital when this was sent. Roblox brushed her a decade later I see very similar emails from Roblox regarding predators we get arrested Fans start #BoycottRoblox and #FreeSchelp movements on social media Fans of Schelp have launched #BoycottRoblox and #FreeSchelp campaigns across X, TikTok, and other platforms, accusing Roblox of silencing a whistleblower. Supporters argue the ban sends the wrong message by punishing someone who helped expose predators. Roblox, meanwhile, maintains that its moderation and safety systems are best handled internally, citing its '24/7 human and automated monitoring,' direct reporting partnerships with law enforcement, and cooperation with agencies like the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The company insists that independent sting operations like Schelp's 'undermine official investigations' and can 'increase risks to users' if not handled through approved channels. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
