Jeffrey Epstein was permanently banned from Xbox Live in 2013, US Justice Department files show

In 2012, Microsoft and others began working to restrict access to online gaming platforms for registered sex offenders

Jeffrey Epstein was permanently banned from Xbox Live in 2013, according to newly released documents from the US Justice Department.

The records indicate that an account associated with Epstein’s email address was removed from the platform several years before his death in 2019.

The original ban notice cited “harassment, threats, and/or abuse of other players” as the reason for the suspension. However, follow-up correspondence shows the decisive factor was Epstein’s status as a registered sex offender in New York State at the time.

A second email sent to the account provided a more detailed explanation. “This message is to notify you that Xbox LIVE has permanently suspended the Xbox LIVE account associated with this email address,” it stated. “This action is based on the New York Attorney General's partnership with Microsoft and other online gaming companies to remove New York registered sex offenders from online gaming services to minimize the risk to others, particularly children.”

The message added that “any Xbox LIVE account associated with this email address will not be able to connect to Xbox LIVE.” The documents clarify that the suspension was permanent and not subject to appeal under the terms of the policy.

In 2012, Microsoft and other major gaming and technology companies began working with New York State authorities to restrict access to online gaming platforms for registered sex offenders. According to contemporaneous reporting, companies involved in the agreement included Sony, Electronic Arts, Warner Bros, Disney, Blizzard and Apple.

The policy aimed to reduce potential risks associated with online interactions, particularly those involving minors, by preventing access to multiplayer gaming environments and communication tools.

Reacting to the resurfacing of the documents, former Xbox Live senior director Larry Hryb, widely known as Major Nelson, commented on the enforcement process, saying: “Our team was thorough, I'll give them that.”

Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges and died later that year while awaiting trial. The Xbox Live ban highlights one of several measures taken by technology platforms during that period to enforce safety policies linked to criminal registries.