Roblox Banned in Russia

Roblox Access Restricted in Russia

The popular online gaming platform, Roblox, is now inaccessible to users in Russia, as reported by Russian state media outlets.

Roblox distinguishes itself as a platform centered around user-generated content. Players are empowered to both develop and share their own unique gaming experiences, a concept comparable to that of Minecraft.

Reasons for the Ban

The platform fosters diverse communities built around shared interests, encompassing areas like military roleplaying and groups demonstrating LGBTQ solidarity. However, Russia’s legal framework currently classifies public LGBTQ advocacy as constituting “extremist activity.”

A translation of an article published by TASS, Russia’s state-owned news agency, indicates that the presence of LGBTQ-related content was specifically cited by Russia’s communications agency as a key factor in the decision to ban the platform.

As of this afternoon, Roblox has not yet issued a response to inquiries from TechCrunch regarding the ban.

Broader Challenges Facing Roblox

This action occurs amidst ongoing scrutiny of Roblox concerning safety and content moderation. Recent investigations have revealed instances of underage users being exposed to potential child predators on the platform.

In the United States, Roblox is currently subject to legal investigations initiated by the Attorneys General of both Texas and Louisiana.

The company has responded by introducing age verification processes and enhanced content moderation tools. Beginning in January, mandatory facial verification will be required to utilize Roblox’s chat functionalities. (It is important to note that facial verification technology itself presents its own set of security and privacy considerations.)

Developer Guidelines and Backlash

Roblox has also requested that developers identify experiences that focus on “sensitive social, political, or religious issues.” This is intended to allow parents of users under the age of 13 to control their children’s access to such content.

This request has generated criticism from advocacy organizations including Out Making Games, Women in Games, and BAME in Games, which collectively represent minority groups within the gaming industry.

In a jointly authored open letter, these groups expressed concern that Roblox categorizes topics such as “pay equity in sports” as being “sensitive.”

“While parental controls are valuable, they should not compromise fundamental human dignity,” the letter stated. “We urge Roblox to re-evaluate these guidelines and implement methods to safeguard young users without endorsing discrimination or suppressing important perspectives.”

Usage Statistics in Russia

Data from Appfigures, an app intelligence firm, estimates that Roblox has been installed approximately 70 million times on mobile devices in Russia. Approximately 8 million of those installations occurred during the current year.