Russia has imposed a ban on Roblox, citing reasons that include "LGBT propaganda"

Access to the gaming platform Roblox has been restricted for Russian users due to purportedly containing "LGBT propaganda," as per actions taken by the Russian government.

According to BBC News, this restriction was enforced by Russia's media censorship agency, Roskomnadzor, due to concerns about the platform's content.

TASS, a local news agency, reports that Roblox has been utilized for propagating messages and endorsing "extremist and terrorist actions."

Roskomnadzor has also expressed objections regarding the platform's stance on "LGBT issues," claiming Roblox is inadequately equipped to ensure content safety.

The agency criticized Roblox, characterizing it as "filled with inappropriate content that may harm the spiritual and moral growth of children."

In response, Roblox affirmed its compliance with local laws in operational regions and emphasized its dedication to user safety.

A spokesperson remarked, "We adhere to the local legal frameworks of the nations we serve and believe Roblox offers a constructive environment for education, creativity, and meaningful interaction."

They added, "We prioritize safety and have implemented a comprehensive set of preventive measures to identify and block hazardous content on our platform."

Roblox is not alone in facing scrutiny from Roskomnadzor. Recently, Valve was accused of removing a game from its Steam service that contained LGBTQ+ themes at Roskomnadzor's request.

The censorship body reportedly also contacted Apple’s App Store and Google Play, yet these platforms did not comply with the request.

Earlier in the year, Iraq prohibited Roblox, and in 2024, Türkiye likewise barred the platform, citing child safety concerns.

Roblox has faced ongoing criticism over user safety, leading to the introduction of voluntary age verification using facial recognition technology to confirm the age of its users.

A more recent development saw CEO Dave Baszucki endure a challenging interview on the New York Times' Hard Fork podcast, where the focus was on Roblox's child protection measures amid multiple lawsuits.