Russia Blocks Roblox Over Harmful Content for Children

Russia's communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, has blocked access to the popular online gaming platform Roblox within the country, citing concerns over inappropriate content that could harm children's development. The decision, announced on Wednesday, accuses the platform of distributing materials justifying terrorism, promoting LGBT themes, and exposing young users to sexual harassment and the sharing of intimate images.

Roskomnadzor stated that Roblox contains content negatively impacting the spiritual and moral development of children, including instances where minors are coerced into violent or depraved acts. The agency, responsible for monitoring and restricting media in Russia, emphasized that such material violates national laws on extremism and child protection. This move aligns with Russia's broader restrictions on online platforms perceived to conflict with conservative values, particularly those involving LGBT advocacy, which the government designated as an extremist movement in 2023.

A spokesperson for Roblox, which reported 151.5 million daily active users in the third quarter of this year, responded by affirming the company's respect for local regulations. "We...