Russia blocks access to U.S. children's gaming platform Roblox

Russia has blocked access to the popular U.S. children’s gaming platform Roblox, accusing it of spreading extremist materials and promoting what it calls “LGBT propaganda,” the country’s communications watchdog Roskomnadzor announced on Wednesday.

The regulator said Roblox was “rife with inappropriate content that can negatively impact the spiritual and moral development of children.” It did not specify which materials led to the decision. Roblox Corp, which operates the platform, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The gaming platform, which reported an average of 151.5 million daily active users in the third quarter of 2025, has previously faced bans in countries such as Iraq and Türkiye over concerns that predators were exploiting it to target children.

According to its website, Roblox says it is “rigorously committed” to keeping users safe through artificial intelligence tools, moderation teams, and cooperation with law enforcement and child safety experts.

Part of Russia’s broader digital crackdown

The ban is the latest step in Russia’s sweeping effort to tighten control over online content and foreign tech platforms. Roskomnadzor has previously restricted or blocked access to major Western services, including Facebook, Instagram, and BBC News, accusing them of violating domestic laws on “extremism” and “non-traditional sexual relations.”

Last year, the language-learning app Duolingo removed all references to what Russia terms “non-traditional sexual relations” after the watchdog issued warnings over LGBT content.

In 2023, Russia went further by designating what it called the “international LGBT movement” as an extremist organisation, allowing authorities to open criminal cases against LGBT people and their supporters.

Tech platforms under growing pressure

Roskomnadzor has also targeted messaging apps. In August 2025, it began limiting certain calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, accusing the foreign-owned platforms of refusing to cooperate with Russian law enforcement in cases related to fraud and terrorism. The watchdog last week threatened to block WhatsApp completely if the company continued to resist demands for data access.

Critics say such measures are part of the Kremlin’s campaign to suppress independent information and foreign influence under the pretext of protecting national security and public morality.

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