Russia's media regulator, Roskomnadzor, has ordered Roblox blocked nationwide, arguing that the platform, popular with young people, exposes minors to content deemed dangerous. According to the BBC, which reported the decision, authorities see a "moral" and "spiritual" risk, an argument used in previous censorship measures.
“Extremist” content and concerns about the protection of minors
Roskomnadzor claims to have identified what it calls “inappropriate” content on Roblox, including games inspired by terrorist attacks, gambling simulations, and LGBT-related content, which is considered “extremist” under Russian law. These accusations, reported by several Russian media outlets, come on top of broader concerns about the safety of minors: the regulator denounces cases of sexual harassment, extortion of intimate images, and “depraved acts,” according to a statement cited by Russian news agencies and reported by franceinfo.
The platform allows its users to design and share their own games, making total control of the content difficult. Some virtual environments have also been used to spread pro-Ukrainian messages, as a young Moscow player told franceinfo, claiming to have discovered Ukrainian flags and slogans critical of the "Z" symbol. These examples, reported exclusively by franceinfo, exacerbate the authorities' distrust of a space perceived as uncontrollable.
A political measure in a context of widespread censorship
Roblox has joined a list of apps already blocked in Russia, where internet surveillance has intensified in recent years. The game, used daily by approximately 100 million people worldwide according to the company, a large proportion of whom are minors, had already been banned in countries such as Turkey, Iran, and China, for reasons of child safety.
The American company, for its part, maintains that it complies with the local laws of the states where it operates and asserts that it has strengthened its moderation tools, citing in particular age verification mechanisms. This ban comes as other digital services, such as WhatsApp and Telegram, have experienced significant disruptions in Russia in recent days, raising fears, according to franceinfo, of a widespread blocking of messaging services.
