Russia Blocks Roblox Over Allegations of Extremist and LGBT Content

Russia has officially blocked access to the popular U.S.-based gaming platform Roblox, citing concerns over "extremist material" and what it calls “LGBT propaganda.”

Roblox Banned in Russia | Image via Gaming Amigos

The announcement came from Roskomnadzor, Russia’s communications watchdog, which claimed the platform was "rife with inappropriate content" that could “negatively impact the spiritual and moral development of children.”

Roblox, which reported an average of 151.5 million daily active users in Q3 2025, responded to the ban via a statement to Reuters. A company spokesperson said, “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.” They also emphasized the platform’s “deep commitment to safety” and its use of proactive tools to detect and prevent harmful content.

This isn’t the first time Roblox has faced regional restrictions. Several countries have taken similar steps in recent months:

• Qatar – banned in August 2025

• Kuwait – banned in August, lifted in October

• Turkey – banned since August 2024, with ongoing restrictions

• Iraq, Oman, Algeria, Jordan, and Palestine – all issued bans or partial restrictions in 2025

In 2023, Russia labeled the “LGBT movement” as extremist and classified its supporters as terrorists, opening the door to serious criminal charges against LGBT individuals and their allies. As a result, apps like Duolingo had to remove LGBTQ+ references last year.

The Roblox ban also comes amid broader tensions with foreign tech companies. In August, Russia began limiting calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, accusing them of withholding data needed for law enforcement investigations. Just last week, Roskomnadzor threatened to block WhatsApp entirely.