Dozens of people demonstrated on Sunday in the Siberian city of Tomsk to protest the ban on the American video game platform Roblox, an unusual event in a country where unauthorized gatherings have become rare since the start of the war in Ukraine.
The protest follows the decision announced on December 3 by the Russian communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, which blocked access to Roblox. The agency justified this measure by stating that the platform was "filled with inappropriate content likely to have a negative impact on the spiritual development" of children.
Roblox, hugely popular with young people, allows users to create and share games and virtual worlds. Its ban has sparked growing anger among some parents and players, who believe the decision deprives children of a space for creativity and entertainment that is widely used internationally.
Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, Russian authorities have strengthened online censorship, blocking or restricting access to many Western platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp or YouTube, while promoting national digital services and state-controlled speech.
The Tomsk demonstration, although modest in size, illustrates an unusual form of discontent with these digital restrictions, in a context where any public expression of disagreement remains closely monitored.
