Russia's federal communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, has officially restricted access to the popular online gaming platform Roblox, citing the widespread presence of prohibited materials that promote extremism, terrorism, and LGBT-related themes - the latter classified as extremist under Russian law since a 2023 Supreme Court ruling banning the "international LGBT movement."
The decision, announced on December 3, 2025, follows years of monitoring that revealed Roblox's internal moderation systems were inadequate for fully preventing harmful content.
According to officials, user-generated experiences on the platform frequently include scenarios simulating terrorist acts, school attacks, gambling, and other violent or illegal activities, posing significant risks to the moral and spiritual development of children, who make up a substantial portion of its user base - around 40% of players are under 13, with the platform boasting over 150 million daily active users globally in recent quarters.
Roskomnadzor highlighted particularly alarming issues with child exploitation, stating that minors face sexual harassment in chats, where predators coerce them into sharing intimate photos or engaging in inappropriate behavior.
These incidents, officials claim, often transition from virtual interactions to real-world encounters, with pedophiles exploiting the platform's open communication features.
Such cases are not isolated; similar problems have been documented worldwide, including in the United States, where Roblox reported over 13,000 instances of child exploitation to authorities in 2023 alone - a sharp increase from prior years - and has faced dozens of lawsuits alleging it facilitated grooming and abuse by prioritizing growth over robust safety measures.
The platform's user-created model, which empowers anyone to build and share games, has long complicated moderation efforts despite the company's investments in AI filters, human reviewers, and proactive tools. Roblox has responded to past demands by removing specific prohibited content, such as LGBT-themed elements flagged earlier in 2025, but regulators argue these efforts fall short against the sheer volume of new material uploaded daily.
This ban aligns Russia with a growing list of countries that have restricted or fully prohibited Roblox over child protection concerns, including Turkey, Iraq, Qatar, and several Gulf states.
In some regions, like parts of Argentina and Indonesia, access has been limited on school networks following reports of grooming and harassment. Globally, the platform has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and advocacy groups, with investigations revealing arrests linked to predators targeting children through its chats and role-playing features.
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For Russian families, the block disrupts a once-top-downloaded app that served as a creative outlet for millions of young users. While Roblox maintains a commitment to safety and compliance with local laws, emphasizing its role as a positive space for learning and connection, the move underscores escalating tensions between regulators and foreign tech platforms. As online spaces evolve, the incident highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing innovation, user freedom, and protection in environments dominated by children.
Author: Slava Vasipenok
Founder and CEO of QUASA (quasa.io) — the world's first remote work platform with payments in cryptocurrency.
Innovative entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in IT, fintech, and blockchain. Specializes in decentralized solutions for freelancing, helping to overcome the barriers of traditional finance, especially in developing regions.
