Russia bans Roblox game due to child 'harassment' concerns

Russian authorities have restricted access to Roblox, the US-based online platform that lets users create and share their own games, citing concerns over content harmful to children and accusations of promoting "LGBT propaganda," according to state media reports.

Roblox, which ranked as Russias most downloaded mobile game in 2023, has been criticized by the Russian media regulator Roskomnadzor for hosting content that could negatively affect the moral and spiritual development of young players.

"Children in the game are exposed to sexual harassment, tricked into sharing intimate photos, and pressured into performing violent or immoral acts," the regulator stated.

California-based Roblox Corporation, which operates the platform, has not immediately commented on the block. The platform sees daily engagement from approximately 100 million users worldwide, with nearly 40 percent of users under the age of 13.

Reports of access issues in Russia began surfacing on Wednesday, according to internet monitoring services. Roblox has previously faced bans in countries such as Qatar, Iraq, and Turkey over child safety concerns, and US states including Texas and Louisiana have pursued legal action against the app for similar reasons.

The Roblox Corporation emphasizes that all content is reviewed using a combination of human moderators and artificial intelligence to remove exploitative material. Experts say Russias move reflects a broader pattern of the government seeking to regulate and monitor online platforms.

Author: Riley Thompson