Russia Blocks Access to US Roblox Platform

Russia has blocked access to the US gaming platform Roblox, accusing the popular children’s service of hosting inappropriate material that could harm young users.

The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor, which claimed the platform contained large amounts of harmful content that could negatively affect the intellectual and moral development of children.

Roblox responded through a statement to Reuters, noting that the company respects local regulations in all countries where it operates and considers its platform a positive and safe environment designed for learning, creativity, and meaningful interaction. The company said it maintains strong proactive safety measures aimed at detecting and preventing harmful material.

Roblox, which recorded an average of 151.5 million daily active users in the third quarter of this year, has previously been restricted in several countries including Iraq and Turkey due to concerns over potential misuse by online predators targeting children.

Roskomnadzor has a long history of limiting access to Western media outlets and technology platforms it views as violators of Russian law. Earlier this year, Russia imposed restrictions on some WhatsApp calls and on the Telegram messaging service.

Russian officials frequently accuse foreign-owned platforms of failing to cooperate with law enforcement investigations. Last week, Roskomnadzor warned that WhatsApp could face a full nationwide ban.