Russia blocks Roblox over “LGBT propaganda” and extremist material

Russia’s communications regulator Roskomnadzor has blocked the popular gaming platform Roblox, accusing it of distributing extremist content and “LGBT propaganda.” The agency said the platform contains material it deems harmful to children and cited the country’s laws that restrict such content.

The move is part of a broader campaign targeting international apps and services that Russian authorities say promote ideas at odds with state policy. Earlier actions in the same vein included pressure on other apps to change content; the government recently pushed the language app Duolingo to delete references to what it calls “non-traditional sexual relations.”

Why Roblox was targeted

• Roskomnadzor alleged that some user-generated content on Roblox contained extremist materials and “LGBT propaganda.”
• Russian authorities argue such content can harm children’s “spiritual and moral development,” and have legal frameworks to restrict it.
• Roblox has also faced unrelated safety concerns: the platform’s large user base and user-generated nature have previously attracted criticism over moderation and child safety.

Roblox’s scale and safety efforts

Roblox remains one of the world’s most popular entertainment platforms — it averaged over 151 million daily active users in Q3. The company has said it is improving moderation and safety features, including age-based restrictions and measures to crack down on problematic content and predatory behavior, but challenges persist on platforms that rely heavily on user-generated content.

Global context

• Other countries have also acted against Roblox in the past for safety concerns, and the platform has been scrutinized by regulators internationally.
• Russia’s justification cites both content moderation failures and a political agenda against LGBTQ+ visibility — critics say such bans can be used to justify censorship beyond narrowly defined safety goals.

What to watch next

• Responses from Roblox about the blocking and whether the company will pursue legal or technical steps to restore access.
• How Russian regulators will enforce the block and whether mitigations (content removal, regional controls) are requested.
• Broader implications for platforms that host user-generated content and operate in countries with restrictive content laws.

For official statements, see Roblox’s safety updates and major news coverage for further verification.

Discussion: Do you think governments should block platforms like Roblox over content concerns, or are there better ways to protect children while preserving access? What balance should platforms strike between open user-generated content and strict moderation?