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.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday Iran had agreed to nuclear inspections into "infinity, despite Tehran's denials, and that unfrozen Iranian...
The Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded more than 1,000 confirmed Ebola cases for the first time in the current outbreak, with infections rising...
Belgium has issued 24-hour visas to a Taliban delegation attending European Union migration talks in Brussels, as EU member states explore ways to ret...
Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of Scotland's governing Scottish National Party (SNP), has been jailed for five years and three months after...
Germany is preparing for one of the most significant reforms of its pension system in decades, as Chancellor Friedrich Merz backs proposals aimed at s...
A Ukrainian strike has damaged a school building in a Russian-controlled area of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, according to local authorities cited by the TASS news agency. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 23 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 22 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Fuel stations in Russian-controlled Crimea stopped selling fuel to individuals and businesses from 9:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, the Russian-installed governor said.
At least thirteen people have died and sixty-six have been injured following an explosion at Qatar's main liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing hub at Ras Laffan, authorities said on Sunday.
Cape Verde’s remarkable FIFA World Cup debut continued on Sunday (21 June) as the tournament newcomers held Uruguay to a 2-2 draw. Goalkeeper Vozinha was once again at the centre of the story, this time with his mother watching from the stands.
Tehran has agreed to let the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommence inspections of its nuclear programme, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has said. The U.S. and Iran have settled on a 60-day roadmap aimed at reaching a final deal, according to mediators Qatar and Pakistan.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed on a landmark internet deal that will allow traffic to pass through Azerbaijani networks.It's the latest deal to highlight the ongoing peace process between the two countries.
Three students have been killed and at least seven injured after two of their peers opened fire in a high school in the Philippines, police said. A spokesperson for the police said the two suspects, aged 14 and 15, had been arrested and a police pistol confiscated. Bullying is a possible motive.
Belgium has issued 24-hour visas to a Taliban delegation attending European Union migration talks in Brussels, as EU member states explore ways to return some Afghans convicted of serious crimes or considered security threats.
Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of Scotland's governing Scottish National Party (SNP), has been jailed for five years and three months after admitting to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party over a 13-year period
Germany is preparing for one of the most significant reforms of its pension system in decades, as Chancellor Friedrich Merz backs proposals aimed at safeguarding retirement incomes in the face of rapid demographic change.
Authorities in Russia's Omsk region have imposed limits on petrol and diesel sales as officials seek to stabilise the local market and prevent speculation amid tightening fuel supplies.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded more than 1,000 confirmed Ebola cases for the first time in the current outbreak, with infections rising to 1,048, including 267 deaths, authorities said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment