Roblox ban in Russia draws criticism from parents and gamers

A rare protest erupted in the Siberian city of Tomsk on Sunday as several dozen people rallied against Russia’s ban on the US children’s gaming platform Roblox (RBLX.N). 

The demonstration highlights growing public irritation over the restrictions, even in a country where censorship is tightly controlled.

Several other social media sites, such as Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat/WhatsApp, and YouTube, have been shut down or restricted in Russia, with indigenous media used to spread government messages.

Earlier on December 3, a message from Russia’s Communications Regulator Roskomnadzor stated they had blocked access to the game platform Roblox because it is ‘filled with content not suitable for children, which may have a negative influence on children’s spiritual and moral formation.’

Tomsk, a city 2,900 km East of Moscow, saw a small protest with approximately 25 people in Vladimir Vysotsky Park, where they stood with handmade signs with these messages: 'Hands off Roblox', 'Roblox is a victim of digital Iron Curtain', and ‘Bans & blocks are all you can do.’ 

The protest took a shine on censorship, child safety, and effectiveness in a globally connected environment.

A lot of Russian children bypass these restrictions using VPNs, leading to doubts over the sense in which such a service is being restricted when a local alternative is not readily available. 

Roblox, headquartered in San Mateo, California, has previously faced bans in countries like Iraq and Turkey over safety concerns. The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the Russian ban.