Russia has blocked access to the U.S.-based children’s gaming platform Roblox, escalating its years-long crackdown on LGBTQ+ visibility. Roskomnadzor(rah-skuhm-nadzur), the country’s federal media regulator, announced the ban, claiming the platform is “rife with inappropriate content that can negatively impact the spiritual and moral development of children.” Russia first banned so-called queer propaganda in the presence of minors in 2013. The law was massively expanded in 2022 to outlaw nearly all public expression of LGBTQ+ life, and in 2023, the nation’s Supreme Court labeled the international LGBT social movement an extremist organization.
Officials said Roblox previously removed some in-game material depicting LGBT characters and attributes of the LGBT community at the agency’s request. But last week, according to Interfax, Roskomnadzor accused the platform of “massive and repeated dissemination of materials with propaganda and justification of extremist and terrorist activities, calls for committing illegal violent actions and LGBT propaganda.” Roblox defended its platform, telling Reuters they respects the local laws and regulations and have a deep commitment to safety. The platform, which averages 151.5 million daily users, has also been banned in Iraq, Turkey, and other countries.
