Roskomnadzor is not considering the possibility of unblocking the Roblox gaming platform in Russia, the agency's press service told RIA Novosti.
On December 3, the regulator restricted access to the service, citing "mass and repeated distribution of materials justifying extremist and terrorist activities, calls for violence, and promotion of LGBT topics (the LGBT movement is recognized as extremist and banned in Russia)." The agency also noted that the platform is used by pedophiles to meet minors and further criminal activities both in Russia and abroad.
After the blocking, a number of media outlets reported that Roblox had expressed its willingness to comply with Russian requirements. However, Roskomnadzor stated that "there are currently no grounds for unblocking the platform."
Roblox is an online platform created in 2006 where users develop and launch their own gaming projects. The service gained popularity during the pandemic and is among the top three most visited gaming platforms in Russia. Games, called "experiences," are created using the Roblox Studio editor and cover a wide range of genres, from simulators to adventures.
Previously, the platform has been repeatedly criticized for weak moderation. In 2024, the investment company Hindenburg Research published a study where Roblox was called "an environment dangerous for children," pointing to numerous cases of sexual exploitation and inappropriate content. Similar problems were noted by journalists from The Guardian and ABC News.
Roblox Corporation denied the allegations and claimed that it is taking measures to protect underage users.
Roskomnadzor previously informed RBC that a number of Telegram channels are spreading false information about the blocking of the popular game Minecraft, which was allegedly "added to the list of prohibited items."
