A Reuters report says Russia has blocked access to Roblox in the country over concerns that it is “rife with inappropriate content that can negatively impact the spiritual and moral development of children.” That may not be entirely wrong, but the allegations themselves certainly are: The ban was prompted by what Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor described as extremist content and “LGBT propaganda” being distributed on the platform, a position later confirmed by Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti.
That’s quite a bit different from the usual complaints about the dangers to children on Roblox, which are more typically cited as the presence of predators and unmoderated sexual content on the platform. The attorney general for Kentucky, for instance, called Roblox “a playground for predators who seek to harm our children,” while the AG for Texas accused Roblox of “putting pixel pedophiles and profit” ahead of child safety measures.
The Russian ban, unfortunately, is predicated in part on the mere presence of LGBT content in the game—which, to be perfectly clear, is not a danger to children or anyone else. It is, however, forbidden in films, television, and videogames in Russia, the result of a 2022 expansion of a law that had previously prohibited “the propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” in content for minors.
“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 Roblox 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.”
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