The Russian government has reversed its decision to ban Roblox after thousands of children voiced their opposition. The popular US game was blocked in December by Roskomnadzor, Russia's communications watchdog, which accused the platform of containing 'inappropriate content that can negatively impact the spiritual and moral development of children.'
Children's Protests and Petition
The ban sparked a wave of complaints, including a rare protest in Siberia and an official petition demanding the restoration of one of the world's most popular games. The pro-Kremlin Safe Internet League reported receiving 63,000 letters from children against the ban. According to The Moscow Times, around half of these letters indicated that the children wanted to leave Russia due to the block.
The wave of complaints was even acknowledged by Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for President Vladimir Putin, who confirmed that the president received a significant number of appeals.
Government Announcement
The Russian Ministry of Media and Communications announced today: 'Roblox has fully complied with Russian legislation to ensure user safety. The online gaming service is once again available throughout Russia. The corporation has implemented a comprehensive set of measures to further protect children, including launching a mechanism to restrict access to games by age group. Roblox has also committed to further combating the spread of inappropriate content on the platform.'
In its initial ban, Russia's media watchdog cited concerns over alleged terrorism-related content and information about LGBTQ+ issues, which can be classified as extremist content under Russia's strict laws. Before the ban, Roblox had already restricted chats to prevent adult strangers from communicating with children.
Broader Context
The Russian government has also restricted access to other apps and platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube. Meanwhile, the UK government is reportedly considering measures to prevent children from interacting with strangers on any gaming platform.
