US Senators Say Discord And Roblox Should Have Their Day In Court
Three Democratic U.S. senators have criticized Discord and Roblox for using private arbitration to resolve child safety disputes rather than allowing cases to proceed through the public court system. Senators Dick Durbin of Illinois, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, and a third colleague condemned both platforms, arguing they should face justice in court instead of using arbitration to shield themselves from public accountability.
According to a Bloomberg report published August 31, the senators’ criticism targets arbitration clauses—contractual provisions that force disputes into private proceedings instead of public litigation. The senators argue these clauses allow companies like Discord and Roblox to avoid transparency and judicial oversight regarding child protection matters.
The senators’ position reflects broader legislative and regulatory pressure on technology platforms to submit to public legal processes when child safety is at stake. This criticism underscores growing demands for greater accountability from major online service providers, with advocates arguing that arbitration mechanisms keep child safety cases out of public view and away from judicial scrutiny.