Roskomnadzor Blocks Roblox in Russia Over Child Safety and Extremism Concerns
Roskomnadzor, the Russian internet regulator, has blocked the online gaming platform Roblox in Russia due to concerns related to child safety and extremist content, including LGBT content that is deemed extremist and banned in Russia.
The agency stated that Roblox contains content that could harm children's moral development, such as simulations of terrorist attacks and gambling activities. Additionally, reports cited by the regulator mention sexual harassment of children and the sharing of intimate images occurring on the platform.
Roblox responded by emphasizing its respect for laws in the countries where it operates and highlighted that it maintains a robust safety program. However, Roblox’s model, which relies heavily on user-generated content, makes regulation particularly challenging. The platform remains one of the most downloaded mobile games in Russia.
This is not the first instance of Roblox facing bans over child safety concerns; it is already banned in Turkey, and in 2023 Singapore flagged ISIS-themed servers on the platform. Furthermore, last month, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Roblox, accusing the company of ignoring safety laws and deceiving parents.
In an effort to enhance safety measures, Roblox announced this month that it would stop allowing children to chat with adult strangers on the platform.
