PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Joel Bieber Firm filed a federal lawsuit in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on behalf of a child survivor, alleging that two major digital platforms — Roblox and Snapchat — failed to protect minors from online predators who exploit their systems.
The lawsuit details how an adult male predator allegedly used Roblox to contact and groom a minor and then transitioned the communication to Snapchat. From there, the adult allegedly exploited the child and coerced them into sharing sexually explicit images and videos.
“This predator was able to operate openly on platforms used daily by millions of children,” said Melissa Hague, director of the firm’s sexual assault practice. “The platforms failed to implement the basic safety measures necessary to protect vulnerable users.”
Platforms Under Fire for Lax Safety Protocols
The suit is part of a growing legal effort to hold online platforms accountable for the increasing threat of “sextortion” and online grooming. It alleges that Roblox and Snapchat:
- Did not enforce meaningful age-verification measures
- Ignored internal and external warnings about predator activity
- Failed to adequately inform users and parents about known risks
- Promoted the platforms as safe, despite recurring incidents
Predator Tracked Across Multiple States
The individual named in the complaint was first investigated by Utah law enforcement for exploiting other minors. He was arrested and prosecuted for those crimes, and remains incarcerated in Utah. During that investigation, digital evidence led police to alert Philadelphia authorities about a possible additional victim in Pennsylvania — the child now represented in this civil suit.
Forensic analysis of the predator’s devices uncovered hundreds of sexually explicit images and videos of children, confirming the pattern of exploitation.
To protect their identity, the child survivor is not named in court filings.
Seeking Justice and Accountability
“This case is about more than one child — it’s about systemic failure,” Hague emphasized. “Big tech platforms have known for years that predators are using their tools to target children. Yet they’ve done far too little to make their platforms safe.”
She continued, “Survivors of online sexual abuse often carry invisible scars for life. Our client has shown immense bravery in coming forward, and we’re determined to fight for justice on their behalf.”
About the Joel Bieber Firm’s Assault Practice
Our firm is committed to representing survivors of sexual assault and child exploitation nationwide. The attorneys in our dedicated assault practice fight to hold institutions accountable — whether corporations, schools, or tech companies —under civil law.
We serve clients across multiple states and have offices in Philadelphia, Richmond, Virginia Beach, Towson, Tryon, and Greenville. If you or someone you know has been affected by online exploitation or sexual abuse, we’re here to help.
Contact us confidentially to learn more about your legal options.
