Highlights
- Russia’s Roskomnadzor has banned Roblox nationwide, accusing the game of distributing “extremist materials” and promoting “LGBT propaganda.”
- Roblox responded by acknowledging the regulatory decision, reiterating its commitment to safety, and stating that the platform provides a positive and creative learning environment with proactive moderation.
- The ban aligns with Russia’s broader tightening of cultural and media control, following recent actions against apps and games featuring LGBTQ representation, signaling growing restrictions on Western digital platforms.
After Iraq and Turkey, Roblox Corporation has now faced backlash from Russia. On Dec. 3, 2025, the Russian censoring agency, Roskomnadzor, announced a ban on Roblox nationwide. According to them, the game is distributing “extremist materials” and promoting “LGBT propaganda.”
According to the regulator, Roblox was “rife with inappropriate content that can negatively impact the spiritual and moral development of children,” making it incompatible with Russia’s current legal and moral standards. With the ban now in effect, all aspects of Roblox, including its website, studio, and app, are effectively inaccessible to users inside Russia.
This is not the first time Roskomnadzor has curtailed access to foreign media, online platforms, and social networks. From banning MyAnimeList to threatening to block Whatsapp, Russia’s Roskomnadzor targeted platforms featuring content deemed ideologically or morally objectionable by the states.
Roblox’s Response and the Platform’s Global Footprint
After the ban, a spokesperson for Roblox issued a brief statement to Reuters acknowledging the regulatory decision. The company said it respects the “local laws and regulations in the countries where we operate” and reiterated its view that Roblox provides “a positive space for learning, creation, and meaningful connection for everyone.”
The spokesperson also highlighted Roblox’s “deep commitment to safety,” citing a “robust set of proactive and preventative safety measures,” including artificial intelligence tools, human moderation teams, and cooperation with law enforcement and child-safety experts. These safety measures have been a focus of the company, as it’s constantly facing criticism over child safety, unmoderated content, and potential exploitation risks.
However, Russia’s ban on Roblox doesn’t only stem from child safety concerns; it highlights Russia’s evolving moral framework that diminishes the freedom of expression of the country’s people.
As of the third quarter of 2025, Roblox averaged around 151.5M daily active users worldwide. Yet, despite its size and efforts to safeguard users, the recurring bans in multiple countries might weigh down its reach.
As for Russia, the Roblox ban fits into a wider pattern of censorship and cultural control by Russian authorities in recent years. Earlier this month, Flick Solitaire, a game featuring LGBTQ-themed art, was made unavailable in Russia. Last year, Duolingo, a language-learning app, was asked to remove references that could suggest "non-traditional sexual relations."
