US Senators Say Discord And Roblox Should Have Their Day In Court

Three Democratic members of the United States Senate have publicly criticized Discord and Roblox, asserting that the popular digital platforms must face public legal proceedings rather than resolving child safety disputes through private arbitration. According to a report published by Bloomberg, Senators Dick Durbin of Illinois, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut filed an amicus brief on August 28, 2026. The filing formally requests that the judiciary keep the numerous active lawsuits against both companies open to the public [1.1].

The core of the senators' argument is that both the voice-chat service Discord and the game-creation platform Roblox should not be permitted to utilize private arbitration mechanisms to shield themselves from public scrutiny. In their joint statement, the lawmakers argued that these companies deserve to have their actions evaluated in an open courtroom. They accused the platforms of misleading parents regarding the safety of their digital environments and failing to adequately protect underage users from severe online harms, including sexual abuse.

Arbitration is a legal process that allows disputes to be resolved privately outside of the traditional court system. If Discord and Roblox successfully compel plaintiffs into arbitration, the details, evidence, and final outcomes of these legal battles would likely remain sealed and hidden from public view. The senators are actively fighting this outcome, pointing to the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act. This federal law, passed by Congress in 2022, explicitly prohibits corporations from forcing victims into private arbitration when dealing with allegations of sexual harassment or abuse.

The specific amicus brief was submitted in connection with a lawsuit involving a 13-year-old boy. The case alleges that the minor met a predator on the Roblox platform, who subsequently groomed, coerced, and blackmailed the child into transmitting explicit materials using Discord. This particular case represents just one of hundreds of ongoing legal challenges currently being mounted against both tech companies over safety concerns.

An amicus brief serves as a legal document filed by individuals or groups who are not direct parties to a lawsuit but possess a strong interest in the matter. By submitting this brief, the three senators aim to provide the presiding court with broader context regarding the legislative intent of federal arbitration exemptions, arguing that allowing these companies to bypass public trials would directly undermine the protections Congress intended to establish for survivors of abuse.

In response to growing pressure from lawmakers and the public, Roblox Corporation has previously taken steps to improve safety measures on its platform. The company has invested $12 million into safety initiatives, which have included the implementation of facial recognition technology and age-verification protocols. Despite these efforts, and public statements from co-founder and CEO David Baszucki addressing the ongoing criticisms, the platform continues to face intense scrutiny from regulators and the public alike.