YouTube user Schlep, ostensibly a self-proclaimed "predator hunter," expelled from online gaming platform Roblox
Roblox Bans Popular YouTuber Schlep for Predator Hunting
In a surprising turn of events, Roblox, the popular online gaming platform, has banned YouTuber Schlep for violating its policies against "vigilante groups." Schlep, who has been playing on Roblox since he was eight years old, has been a vocal advocate for combating online predators.
The ban comes after Schlep was accused of conducting unauthorized predator hunting activities, which Roblox views as harmful and interfering with its safety protocols. According to the company, Schlep failed to report suspicious behaviour through official channels, engaged in simulated child endangerment, and shared personal information, exposing users to increased risk and undermining its safety efforts.
Roblox maintains that its stance on user-led predator hunting is that while it is committed to combating illegal and harmful conduct, including child exploitation, this must be done through official channels and safety protocols. The company explicitly prohibits "vigilante groups," claiming that such user-led initiatives often impersonate minors, approach other users, and attempt to lead them to external platforms for sexually explicit conversations, thereby creating an unsafe environment.
Schlep disputes the ban, emphasizing his history in helping catch alleged predators, including his own experience as a victim. He has posted screenshots of a cease and desist letter from a law firm acting on behalf of Roblox, which warns him not to open new accounts to evade the enforcement action. Schlep has also shown an anonymous email from a kid who thanked him for getting someone they were getting groomed by arrested.
Despite the ban, Schlep loves Roblox and is critical of it because he wants it to do better. He claims he has tried to engage with Roblox multiple times about the best way to report suspicious users, but to no avail. Roblox, however, works closely with and actively seeks law enforcement's input on safety matters.
Roblox's legal actions against Schlep reflect its position that unauthorized and direct user interventions—despite good intentions—pose risks and violate community standards. The company believes safety enforcement should be left to trained professionals and proper authorities, not individual users.
Schlep, a YouTuber with around 650k subscribers, has been banned from Roblox. The company has a trusted flagger program for reporting suspected serious criminal activity, such as child exploitation. Roblox encourages users to use this program to alert them to potentially harmful activity.
Despite the ban, Schlep claims his actions on Roblox have led to the arrest of six alleged 'predators' online. He has expressed no plans to revisit or make a new account on Roblox.
In the past, Schlep says he was groomed on Roblox, and his mother reporting this did not lead to the alleged groomer being banned. This incident, coupled with his recent ban, has sparked a debate about the effectiveness of Roblox's safety measures and the role of individual users in combating online predators.
References:
[1] Roblox's official statement on Schlep's ban
[2] Schlep's response to the ban
[3] Cease and desist letter from Roblox to Schlep
[4] Roblox's policies against vigilante groups
- In response to Schlep's ban from Roblox, the YouTuber with over 650k subscribers share his concern about the platform's safety measures, citing an instance where he was groomed on Roblox and his mother's report did not lead to the alleged offender's ban.
- Amidst the ongoing debate about the effectiveness of Roblox's safety measures, the company has emphasized that unauthorized user-led predator hunting activities, such as those carried out by Schlep, could impose risks and violate community standards, continuing to advocate for the use of their trusted flagger program for reporting suspected criminal activity.
