Tech & IT

Roblox Under Fire: Growing Risks in Online Child Exploitation

An increasing number of reports have raised alarms about the safety of children on Roblox, a popular online gaming platform. Law enforcement in Scottsdale, Arizona, recently uncovered a disturbing case where an adult predator posed as a teenager to target boys aged 10 to 13. The predator, identified as Jacob Lozano, 23, from Florida, used online games to lure his victims into private messaging apps, where he coerced them into performing explicit acts on camera. These acts were recorded without the boys’ knowledge, with Lozano offering rewards such as PlayStation gift cards and even delivering pizza to their homes.

The situation came to light when the mother of an 11-year-old boy with special needs discovered sexually explicit messages on her son’s phone. She immediately contacted the police and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The investigation soon revealed that Lozano had exploited numerous other boys in Arizona and possibly beyond, though charges outside Arizona have yet to be filed.

This case is far from isolated. A 2022 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) indicates a significant increase in the online sexual exploitation of children. The report highlights how greater internet access, technological advancements, and the rise of encryption have made it easier for predators to exploit children. Data from the NCMEC shows that reports of online sexual enticement, including financial sextortion of minors, surged by over 300% between 2021 and 2023.

Lozano had been linked to a previous NCMEC CyberTip for online crimes against children. Florida authorities had found images of a prepubescent boy on a social media account controlled by Lozano. However, attempts to contact him during that investigation were unsuccessful, and the case was marked inactive. It wasn’t until his recent arrest in Florida and extradition to Arizona that he faced serious charges, including 14 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

The rise in using gaming platforms to facilitate sexual exploitation is a growing concern, especially after the 2018 federal crackdown on websites like Backpage.com, which was notorious for advertising sex, including the exploitation of children. After Backpage was shut down, traffickers began exploiting new venues, including social media, dating apps, and online gaming platforms like Roblox.

Roblox, which allows users to interact in virtual worlds they can create, has become one of the leading gaming sites for children globally, with nearly 60% of its users in 2023 being 16 years old or younger. However, its popularity has also made it a target for predators. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) placed Roblox on its “Dirty Dozen List,” citing it as a platform that facilitates and profits from sexual abuse and exploitation.

Despite Roblox’s claims of implementing safety measures such as content moderation, chat filters, and parental controls, incidents of child exploitation continue to surface. A June 2023 NCOSE report revealed that children are often lured into virtual “condo experiences” within Roblox, where they are encouraged to engage in virtual sex acts.

Legal cases involving Roblox have further exposed the dangers of the platform. In one case, a 14-year-old Ohio girl was sexually assaulted by an adult she met on Roblox, who posed as a fellow teen. Another case in Florida involved a girl under 12 who was kidnapped and assaulted by a man she met on the platform.

Roblox has faced multiple lawsuits over the safety of children on its platform. A class-action lawsuit filed in San Mateo County Superior Court in December accused the company of allowing rampant sexual content and the presence of child predators. Although the lawsuit was dismissed for technical reasons, it highlighted the ongoing concerns about the platform’s safety.

In response to these growing concerns, Roblox partnered with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Know2Protect Initiative, a campaign aimed at combating online child exploitation. Roblox has pledged to enhance its safety measures, including displaying safety tips within its games and developing immersive experiences to educate users.

Despite these efforts, law enforcement officials like Sgt. Lorence Jove Jr. of the Tucson Police Department emphasize the immense challenge in keeping up with the rapidly evolving online threats. The battle against online child exploitation is ongoing, and platforms like Roblox remain at the forefront of this critical issue.

Source: arizonadailyindependent.com

Related Topics:Age Verification Video Games

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Tech & IT

Italy (AGCOM): Mandatory age checks on adult sites start Nov 12

Italy’s communications regulator, AGCOM, will enforce mandatory age verification for pornography websites starting November 12, 2025. The system is designed to block access by minors and relies on certified third parties (such as banks or mobile operators) to confirm whether a visitor is 18+. After verification, the third party issues an access code that lets the user proceed to the site.

AGCOM describes a “double anonymity” model: adult sites receive only an “of-age” confirmation and never the user’s identity, while verifiers do not see which website the person is trying to access. According to the rules, the check is required on every visit, not just once.

An initial enforcement list covers around 50 services, including major platforms that host or distribute pornographic content in Italy. Sites found non-compliant can face penalties of up to €250,000.

What changes in practice

Start date: November 12, 2025.
Who verifies: Certified third parties that already hold user identity data.
What sites see: Only that a user is of age, not who they are.
Frequency: Verification is required each time a covered site is accessed.
Enforcement: Fines up to €250,000 for failures to comply.

Italy’s move aligns with broader European efforts to implement age-assurance on adult content. Platforms operating in the country are expected to finalize integrations with certified providers and update user flows to meet the deadline, while users should anticipate an extra verification step before entering affected sites.

Cam Sites

Discord: ID photos of 70,000 users may have been exposed via third-party breach

Discord says official ID photos and other data tied to about 70,000 users may have been exposed after a cyber-attack on an external provider used for age verification and customer support. The company, which reports more than 200 million users globally, said on 9 October 2025 that its own platform was not breached and that access for the affected vendor has been revoked.

According to Discord, the leaked information could include personal details, ID images submitted for age checks, partial credit-card data, and messages exchanged with customer support agents. The company added that no full card numbers, account passwords, or messages beyond support conversations were involved. Impacted users have been notified, and the firm says it is cooperating with law-enforcement authorities.

Discord did not name the third-party provider. A representative from Zendesk, which provides customer-service software to Discord, told the BBC its systems were not compromised and that the incident was not caused by a Zendesk vulnerability. Discord also rejected online claims that the breach was larger than stated, calling them inaccurate and “part of an attempt to extort payment,” and clarified that the incident was not a ransomware attack: “We will not reward those responsible for their illegal actions,” a spokesperson said.

The incident underscores why attackers target high-value personal data—such as full names and government-issued identifiers—that tend to remain constant over time and are useful in scams. Discord has tightened age-verification practices in recent years amid concerns about the distribution of prohibited content on some servers and says it continues to invest in safety and verification controls.

Tech & IT

Valve Deckard: What It Could Mean for VR Adult Content

The Deckard is an upcoming VR headset from Valve, expected to launch in the next few months. If current leaks hold, it could be a major upgrade for immersive adult viewing.

Launch timeline. Chinese analyst group XR Research Institute suggests Deckard is targeting the holiday season, with projected annual production of 400k–600k units, comparable to early Vision Pro volumes.

Pricing. Expectations point to a premium ($1,000+) price tier paired with high-end performance.

Why it matters for VR erotica (platform-agnostic):

Display tech. High-resolution OLED/LCD panels with strong contrast and color should elevate skin tones, low-light scenes, and fine detail.
Input & tracking. Newly referenced “Roy” touch-style controllers in SteamVR code hint at better ergonomics and precision—useful for interactive experiences.

Deckard features (per code dives/leaks):

Standalone + PCVR hybrid. Emphasis on wireless PC streaming for 6K/8K playback without tether drag, alongside native PCVR.
Comfort & design. Ergonomic improvements aim at longer, more comfortable sessions.

App compatibility. Popular VR video apps (e.g., PCVR players and standalone viewers) are expected to work seamlessly with Deckard, based on typical SteamVR support patterns and developer indications.

Bottom line: if Valve delivers on display quality, wireless PCVR, and ergonomics, Deckard could become a flagship device for high-bitrate adult VR—without locking users to any single platform.

Source: sexlikereal.com