US court permanently bans ‘terrorist threat’ Roblox troll
Last November, we reported on the Roblox company suing a longstanding issue: Benjamin Robert Simon, known online as Ruben Sim, who has been on the platform for years and about the production of controversial content on the platform. The lawsuit alleges Simon “committed and encouraged unlawful conduct designed to harm Roblox and its users,” and seeks $1.6 million in damages.
In order to understand his behavior, Simon has been accused of harassing other users, including sexual harassment, and using homophobic and racist language. More specifically, he was charged with “attempting to upload a nude photo of himself with only a lampshade covering his genitals”, “attempting to upload a porn game” and “attempting to upload a picture of Hitler”.
Worst of all, Roblox claims that Simon and his like-minded “cyber thugs” caused the Roblox developer conference in San Francisco in October to be temporarily shut down due to a “terrorist threat.” Simon made various social media posts during the event, forcing police and security forces to get involved and temporarily shutting down the event.
A U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has now ruled on the case, and Simon, who has been banned from Roblox by the developer, is now banned from Roblox by a court order (Thanks, Ars Technica).
Part of the judgment reads: “The defendant is ordered to [Simon] The following actions are hereby permanently restricted and prohibited: Making, publishing, or republishing false threats of terrorist activity in connection with Roblox; b. Willfully making false statements about Roblox; c. glorify or encourage violence against Roblox, its employees, or facilities” and continue to prevent him from accessing Roblox facilities or offices, any Roblox-related videos, and force him to delete any videos he makes within 7 days of being ordered (he also have provided Roblox with a report in this regard or else will be subject to penalty of perjury).
Roblox had sought $16 million in damages for Simon’s actions, which may have been optimistic, but “a $150,000 judgment favors the plaintiff, Roblox, against the defendant.”
It’s safe to say that this troll will no longer lurk under that particular bridge. I contacted Roblox Corporation for comment on the verdict: “We have nothing to add beyond what is already in the document.”