Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is suing Discord, accusing the popular gaming communication platform of exposing children to sexual predators while misleading parents about safety. The state is seeking sweeping changes to age verification, stronger protections and potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties.TAMPA, Fla. — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is taking aim at another technology giant, announcing a sweeping lawsuit against Discord, accusing the popular gaming and messaging platform of becoming a hunting ground for child predators while assuring parents their children are safe.The lawsuit follows investigations involving children allegedly groomed, sexually exploited and even kidnapped by adults who used online gaming communities to gain their trust.”They’ve chosen profit over public safety,” Uthmeier declared Friday, accusing technology companies of failing to protect vulnerable children.The attorney general said Florida is seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in potential financial penalties, along with major changes to how Discord verifies users’ ages and prevents predators from contacting children.11-year-old kidnapped, hundreds of children targetedUthmeier highlighted two particularly disturbing Florida cases.In St. Cloud, a 60-year-old man allegedly posed as a 14-year-old boy on Discord, using the name “Chuck” to communicate with children.Investigators determined he contacted nearly 300 children. Uthmeier said the man is now serving a life sentence.In another case, an 11-year-old Miami girl was lured from Roblox to Discord by an adult pretending to be a teenager.The girl was subsequently kidnapped and sexually assaulted, according to the attorney general.Uthmeier argued those cases illustrate a dangerous pattern: predators initially contact children through gaming platforms, then move conversations to Discord, where increasingly explicit and threatening communications can occur.State accuses Discord of misleading parentsFlorida’s lawsuit alleges Discord failed to implement adequate safeguards while marketing itself as a safe environment for young users.Uthmeier said the company allows users to create accounts with little more than an email address and self-reported birth date, making it easier for adults to impersonate children.He also accused Discord of inadequate content moderation and failing to prevent previously banned offenders from creating new accounts.”Discord told parents not to worry,” Uthmeier said, pointing to the company’s public assurances that safety is central to its operations.But the attorney general argued those promises do not match the dangers uncovered by investigators.Florida subpoenaed Discord approximately six months ago. Uthmeier acknowledged the company has since made some positive safety changes but said they have not gone far enough.Florida seeks massive penalties, mandatory safety changesThe lawsuit includes allegations of:Violations of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.Negligence and negligent misrepresentation.Public nuisance.Violations involving Florida’s child online protection laws.Uthmeier said the state will seek penalties of up to $10,000 per willful deceptive trade practices violation, along with potential penalties of $50,000 per violation of Florida’s children’s online law, increasing to $150,000 under certain circumstances involving actual knowledge of a minor’s age.The state also wants stronger age verification, improved content moderation and measures preventing banned predators from immediately returning under new accounts.The potential penalties could reach hundreds of millions of dollars, according to Uthmeier. No court has determined liability or awarded damages.Prosecutors warn predators can reach children inside their homesRita Peters, special counsel in Florida’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, warned that online predators no longer need to physically approach children to exploit them.”They don’t have to be physically touched to be exploited. They just have to be online,” Peters said.She described how seemingly innocent conversations about video games or school can gradually become private exchanges involving sexual requests, threats and extortion.Investigators also warned about criminal networks using online platforms to coerce children into self-harm and other dangerous behavior.Peters urged parents to preserve usernames, messages, screenshots and other evidence when they suspect exploitation and immediately contact law enforcement rather than confronting suspected offenders themselves.Hillsborough deputies report 176 arrestsHillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Col. Nikki Bosley said the agency’s eight-detective internet predator unit has arrested 176 individuals in the past year in investigations involving child sexual abuse material.She warned that online predators deliberately exploit the trust children develop through games and group chats.”Every one of those devices is a door, and there are people out there trying to walk right through it,” Bosley said.Law enforcement officials urged parents to monitor their children’s applications, review privacy settings and maintain open conversations about online contacts.More technology companies could be nextDiscord is the latest platform targeted in Florida’s expanding legal campaign against technology companies.Uthmeier pointed to previous actions involving Roblox, Snapchat, Meta and TikTok, arguing that companies have repeatedly prioritized growth and profits over children’s safety.He warned that additional lawsuits could follow.”Today it’s Discord. We’ll see who’s next,” Uthmeier said.The allegations against Discord have not been adjudicated, and the company has not been found liable. A response from Discord was not included in the press conference materials.For Uthmeier, the lawsuit is about forcing a fundamental change in how technology companies operate.”Sure, make money, make profit, but do not choose profit over public safety,” he warned. “If you do that, we are gonna make you pay.”
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