Roblox has filed a lawsuit in California against YouTube creator Benjamin Robert Simon, known online as Ruben Sim, accusing him of leading a "cyber mafia" that harassed the platform's users and disrupted its October developer conference. The company is seeking $1.65 million in damages.
The complaint alleges Simon violated his user agreement and California anti-cyber theft laws. It describes a pattern of banned-account cycling, threats against staff and a coordinated campaign timed to the company's annual developer event.
- Roblox filed the suit in California seeking $1.65 million in damages.
- The defendant is Benjamin Robert Simon, who uses the name Ruben Sim on YouTube.
- Roblox says Simon was banned after attempting to upload a near-nude image, Hitler imagery and a banned "sex game."
- After the ban, Simon allegedly returned through fake accounts and pushed roughly 760,000 YouTube followers to do the same.
- During the October 2021 Roblox Developers Conference, fake active-shooter threats forced a lockdown and $50,000 in security costs.
How the alleged campaign worked
According to the complaint, Roblox removed Simon's account for repeated policy violations, including uploads the platform says were sexual or glorified violence. The suit alleges he then returned through fake accounts and pushed his YouTube audience to "raid" the platform in a process Roblox internally calls "stinging in."
The more damaging allegations centre on the October 2021 developer conference. The suit claims Simon used Discord to engage followers in "glamorizing" the 2018 YouTube headquarters shooting and "threatening/mocking copied terrorism at Roblox headquarters," telling followers "wait until [someone] do it to Roblox." During the live event, he allegedly tweeted that local police were searching for a fictional extremist and pushed a video titled "Someone Blow Up Roblox Now." His followers, the complaint says, released fake active-shooter threats and claimed to have poisoned conference drinks. Roblox locked down the venue while police and private security searched the facility, spending $50,000 on security and investigation.
Our analysis
This case is less about one bad actor and more about the cost of harassment-as-a-service. Platforms that serve young users live or die on their ability to keep banned users out. The complaint shows how a single creator with a large YouTube megaphone can turn account bans into a revolving door through fake accounts and coordinated evasion.
There is also a hard-dollar number worth highlighting. Roblox is not just asking for a symbolic penalty. The $50,000 in security costs tied to the conference lockdown is concrete, recoverable loss, and $1.65 million overall is a sum designed to make any future defendant think twice. That is a deliberate message to the broader creator economy: platform-led DDoS-style harassment campaigns now carry real civil exposure.
For parents, the case is a reminder that platforms marketed as "for kids" still attract adults who treat them as a target. The lawsuit also underlines that safety controls work best when paired with user reporting and outside moderation.
What to watch next
Watch for Simon's formal response and any counterclaims around free speech. Also watch whether Roblox uses this case to push for stronger platform-wide enforcement tools, including IP-level bans and tighter device fingerprinting. The suit is as much a deterrent as it is a recovery.
Key takeaways
- Roblox is suing a banned YouTube creator for $1.65 million over alleged coordinated harassment.
- The complaint says fake active-shooter threats forced a conference lockdown and $50,000 in security costs.
- The case targets the practice of banned users returning through fake accounts to disrupt a platform.
- Parents should treat "raid" patterns as reportable, not normal, behaviour.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Roblox suing?
Roblox is suing Benjamin Robert Simon, who goes by Ruben Sim online, according to the California complaint.
How much money is Roblox seeking?
The suit seeks $1.65 million in damages, including roughly $50,000 tied to the October 2021 conference lockdown.
What is Roblox accusing him of?
The complaint alleges breach of contract, California cyber theft violations, harassment, using fake accounts to bypass bans, and inciting threats during the developer conference.
Was anyone hurt at the conference?
The complaint describes a temporary lockdown while police and private security searched the facility. No physical injuries are alleged.
What can users do if they encounter similar harassment?
Use in-app reporting, block the account, preserve screenshots and escalate through the platform's complaint channel. Persistent coordinated abuse should be reported to local authorities if it includes threats of violence.