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How Does Discord’s Bold Ban on Ro-Cleaner Impact Child Safety and User Trust?
Discord recently disabled Ro-Cleaner, a widely used anti-predator bot, citing violations of its policy against user profiling. This move has sparked both outrage and debate within the online community.
What Happened?
- Ro-Cleaner was designed to automatically ban Discord users suspected of involvement in explicit or harmful Roblox communities, especially those targeting children.
- The bot, created by YouTuber Ruben Sim, maintained a database of users found in so-called “condo servers”—Roblox servers known for explicit content or rule-breaking.
- When someone on this list tried to join any of the 23,000+ Discord servers using Ro-Cleaner, the bot would instantly ban them.
- Discord shut down the bot, stating it violated terms by profiling users based on “protected characteristics.”
- Ruben Sim disagreed, arguing that being in explicit servers should not be considered a protected trait.
Key Points of Controversy
Supporters’ Concerns
Many users felt Discord’s decision undermined efforts to protect children from online predators. The shutdown announcement on social media drew strong reactions, with some claiming Discord was inadvertently shielding harmful users.
Critics’ Concerns
Others questioned Ro-Cleaner’s transparency and fairness:
- The bot’s ban list and criteria were secret.
- There was no way to verify how users were added.
- Some worried personal bias could lead to wrongful bans.
Ruben Sim’s own online behavior and alleged biases fueled further skepticism.
What’s Next?
Ruben Sim plans to build a new bot that lets server owners manage their own ban lists. He also intends to release Ro-Cleaner’s user database for public use. The shutdown has sparked an ongoing debate about the balance between safety, privacy, and transparency on major platforms.