Russia bans Roblox over ‘LGBT propaganda’ and ‘extremist’ content

Russia is restricting entree to Roblox aft the country’s communications regulator Roskomnadzor accused it of promoting extremism and “LGBT propaganda,” according to reports from Reuters and Meduza.

As reported by Meduza, Russian lawmakers began raising concerns astir Roblox days aft The Guardian published a study astir the level past month, detailing however the writer was capable to entree contented that mightiness not beryllium due for kids with parental controls enabled.

The communications bureau said that contented connected Roblox “may negatively impact the spiritual and motivation improvement of children,” Meduza reports. “Children successful the crippled are exposed to intersexual harassment, coerced into sharing intimate photos, and pushed toward lewd acts and violence.” In summation to caller restrictions on FaceTime and WhatsApp, Russia has banned platforms like Discord, Facebook, and Instagram successful the past, portion limiting entree to YouTube.

Roblox is besides blocked successful Turkey, Qatar, Oman, and Jordan, portion Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates person restricted entree to in-game chats. In the US, Roblox is besides facing increasing scrutiny surrounding kid safety, with Texas suing the platform implicit claims it’s “putting pixel pedophiles and profits implicit the information of Texas children.” Louisiana filed a akin suit successful August.

Roblox has since announced that it’s locking down entree to intersexual contented and volition soon require users to spell done an property estimation process successful bid to chat connected the platform. “We respect the section laws and regulations successful the countries wherever we run and judge Roblox provides a affirmative abstraction for learning, instauration and meaningful transportation for everyone,” a Roblox spokesperson tells Reuters. Roblox didn’t instantly respond to The Verge’s petition for comment.