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Russia Blocks Roblox, Citing Child-Safety Concerns and Alleged 'LGBT Propaganda'

06:42 AM, 12/04/2025
Russia Blocks Roblox, Citing Child-Safety Concerns and Alleged 'LGBT Propaganda'

Russian authorities have blocked access to the US-owned gaming platform Roblox, accusing it of distributing extremist material, promoting "LGBT propaganda" and exposing children to harassment. Roblox says about 100 million people use the platform daily and that it employs human reviewers and AI tools to remove exploitative content. Observers say the move fits a wider pattern of Russian efforts to control foreign internet services.

Russian authorities have blocked access to the US-owned online gaming platform Roblox, saying the service distributed extremist materials and promoted so-called "LGBT propaganda," while exposing children to abusive content.

In an official statement, the media regulator Roskomnadzor said the platform had become saturated with "inappropriate content that can negatively impact the spiritual and moral development of children." The regulator alleged that children were being subjected to sexual harassment, tricked into sharing intimate photos and coerced into violent or degrading acts.

"Children in the game are subjected to sexual harassment, intimate photos are tricked out of them, and they are coerced into committing depraved acts and violence," Roskomnadzor said.

Roblox Corporation, based in California, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The company states that roughly 100 million people use Roblox every day and that around 40% of its 2024 user base are under 13 years old.

Users in Russia began reporting difficulties accessing the game early on the day of the block, according to online outage trackers. Roblox has faced restrictions elsewhere — it has been banned in countries such as Qatar, Iraq and Turkey over child-safety concerns, and U.S. states including Texas and Louisiana have filed lawsuits alleging similar problems.

The company says it moderates content with a combination of human reviewers and artificial intelligence and removes exploitative material when found. Rights advocates say Russia's decision is consistent with a broader effort by authorities to control and monitor foreign-owned internet services.

Separately, Russia's media regulator said it is considering a ban on the messaging app WhatsApp, arguing the service has failed to prevent criminal activity.

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