Russian gamers are now without Roblox, according to reports coming out of the country where access to the popular kids gaming platform has now been blocked.
According to Reuters, Russian media regulation outlet Roskomnadzor released a statement through Russian news agencies, saying that Roblox is full "inappropriate content that can negatively impact the spiritual and moral development of children."
"Children in the game are subjected to sexual harassment, intimate photos are tricked out of them, and they are coerced into committing depraved acts and violence," the statement continued, also claiming the game promotes "LGBT propaganda." In Russia, LGBTQ people are often disapproved of and support for their rights is sometimes deemed "extremist" in nature.
Roskomnadzor's main function is the monitoring and controlling of mass media in Russia, and has been responsible for censoring several other forms of online content throughout the years, such as Twitter/X, Meta, Google, TikTok, and even Chess.com after the website published articles critical of the country's invasion of Ukraine.
Roblox has come under fire in recent years for becoming a game that, the Florida attorney general says, "has become a breeding ground for predators." In October, Roblox put out a statement in response to the AG, saying his "claims about Roblox are false, and the suggestion that illicit image sharing is happening on Roblox demonstrates a lack of understanding of our platform’s functionality."
More of a social platform than a game, Roblox allows creators to make and monetize their own mini games and modes within it. It has become immensely popular with children, making it a natural target for predators. Earlier this year, the state of Louisiana also filed a lawsuit against Roblox, saying it has allowed such predators to "thrive," so the company and game continue to remain under heavy scrutiny of late.
Destructoid has reached out to Roblox for comment on today's news out of Russia.
Update on Dec. 3 at 8:07pm CT: A Roblox spokesperson has supplied the following statement to Destructoid:
“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. 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.”
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