The Russian government has blocked its citizens from accessing the popular game platform Roblox, saying the service contains harmful material, including what officials call “LGBT propaganda.” According to a report from BBC News, the country’s media watchdog, Roskomnadzor, has restricted Roblox because of worries about the content players can see on the platform.
Local news agency TASS reported that officials claim Roblox has been used to spread propaganda and to justify “extremist and terrorist activity.” Roskomnadzor also said the platform includes information about “LGBT issues” and argued that Roblox cannot fully control or monitor what users post.
The agency described Roblox as being “rife with inappropriate content that can negatively impact the spiritual and moral development of children.”
Roblox pushed back on the accusations, saying it follows the laws of every country it operates in and works hard to protect its community.
“We respect the local laws and regulations in the countries where we operate and believe Roblox provides a positive space for learning, creation and meaningful connection for everyone,” a spokesperson said.
“We have a deep commitment to safety and we have a robust set of proactive and preventative safety measures designed to catch and prevent harmful content on our platform.”
This is not the first time Roskomnadzor has acted against Western video games. Last month, Valve removed a game from Steam that included LGBTQ+ content after pressure from the Russian regulator. Reports also say the agency contacted the App Store and Google Play with similar requests, but both companies ignored them.
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