Russia bans Roblox over child safety fears

Russia’s federal media censor, Roskomnadzor, announced on Wednesday that it had blocked the popular children’s video game Roblox. Statements and reports from government agencies indicate that the Russian authorities have been preparing for this move since the start of the year. Roskomnadzor justified the ban by accusing the game of disseminating materials that supposedly promote extremism and terrorism, as well as information linked to “LGBT themes.” According to the agency, the platform’s content “may negatively affect the spiritual and moral development of children.”

“Children in the game are exposed to sexual harassment, coerced into sharing intimate photos, and pushed toward lewd acts and violence,” Russia’s censor said in a statement, adding that “Roblox is popular among pedophiles who meet minors directly in the game’s chats and then move into real-life contact.”

Roskomnadzor began 2025 with complaints about scams and “LGBT propaganda” hosted on Roblox. Federal police reported other crimes on Roblox in February, March, May, August, and September. In March, a department in the Internal Affairs Ministry even labeled it the online platform with the highest number of recorded crimes in 2024. In July, Roskomnadzor said it had forced the game to remove “LGBT-related” content.

In early November, days after The Guardian published an exposé about how Roblox subjects minors to exploitation, harassment, and harmful interactions, State Duma deputies Nina Ostanina and Yana Lantratova expressed concerns about the game. Citing The Guardian’s article, conservative activists also lobbied federal regulators to consider banning Roblox.

This campaign culminated on November 29, when Roskomnadzor declared that Roblox’s internal moderation system is incapable of ensuring the game’s safety. The agency also accused Roblox of repeatedly failing to remove “prohibited content” since 2019. Three days later, Roblox was officially blocked in Russia. The game is also banned in Turkey, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman.

In July 2025, the Roblox Corporation reported 111.8 million average daily active users, and nearly $1.1 billion in second-quarter revenue.

Cover photo: Roblox Corporation