Emerging Frontlines of Online Sexual Exploitation: Gaming Worlds Favored by Kids

Authorities in Scottsdale have arrested Jacob Lozano, 23, of Florida, for allegedly posing as a teenager to exploit young boys, aged 10 to 13, through online gaming platforms. Officers noted this trend warrants caution among parents as cases of online sexual exploitation grow. “A lot of cases that we’re coming across, especially with younger victims, are starting from online gaming,” remarked an unnamed detective from the Scottsdale Police Department’s Human Exploitation Unit.

Lozano reportedly lured victims through games and coaxed them onto messaging apps. There, he allegedly coerced them into performing sexual acts on camera, recording them without their knowledge. “He was enticing and coercing these boys,” the detective stated. He often rewarded them with PlayStation gift cards and even ordered pizza to their homes.

The investigation began when the mother of an 11-year-old boy discovered explicit messages on her son’s phone, prompting her to contact law enforcement and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Following this lead, detectives identified Lozano and uncovered a dozen other boys in Arizona who were similarly exploited.

A 2022 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office indicates that the rise in online access and new technologies correlates with increased online sexual exploitation of children. Over a two-year span, the NCMEC reported a staggering 300% rise in cases of online sexual enticement and financial sextortion involving minors.

This recent incident isn’t the first linking Lozano to NCMEC’s CyberTipLine. The DeSoto County, Florida Sheriff’s Office previously found images of a prepubescent boy on Lozano’s social media, though that case was deemed inactive after attempts to reach him were unsuccessful. Following the Scottsdale case, he was arrested in Florida and is awaiting trial in Arizona on multiple charges, including sexual exploitation of a minor.

The evolution of online platforms as tools for sexual exploitation began following the shutdown of Backpage.com in 2018, a significant hub for commercial sex advertisements. The FBI’s operation against Backpage led to legislative measures that criminalized knowingly facilitating sex trafficking online. The crackdown has pushed the online sex market to more fragmented and harder-to-track venues.

Sergeant Lorence Jove Jr. of the Tucson Police Department noted that traffickers are quick to exploit popular gaming platforms, where children interact with each other, often without parental oversight. Roblox, a widely-used online gaming site, has emerged as a particular focus due to its appeal among minors. Despite implementing safety measures, concerns persist regarding its ability to protect young users.

In June 2023, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation criticized Roblox for failing to safeguard children adequately. Instances of sexual offenses involving minors and adults who met on the platform have been documented. For example, in 2022, a Michigan man was convicted after sexually assaulting a girl he met on Roblox.

Roblox Corporation has faced lawsuits related to child safety. In response to these challenges, the company has initiated a partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Know2Protect Initiative to combat online child abuse. This collaboration will involve displaying safety tips within the game.

While law enforcement agencies adapt to rapid changes in technology, the ongoing struggle to safeguard minors online remains daunting. “We can only go so far and only do so much,” the Scottsdale detective concluded, emphasizing the urgency for continued vigilance.