Russia has blocked the popular American gaming platform Roblox over “extremist content” and “LGBT propaganda.” The censorship authority Roskomnadzor explained, according to Russian media reports, that the site contains “inappropriate content that could negatively affect the spiritual and moral development of children.” This includes “calls to violence and LGBT propaganda”.
Roblox is an online gaming platform and app where users can not only play games but also create their own. It is not a single game engine, but an ecosystem with millions of games developed and published by the community, similar to a social-media platform. In 2024, Roblox reportedly had about 380 million monthly active users, with roughly 40 percent under 13 years old. The platform also offers dedicated communities for queer people.
A Roblox spokesperson told the BBC that the platform respects national laws and provides a “positive space” for learning. “We have a deep commitment to safety and maintain a robust set of proactive and preventive safety measures designed to detect and prevent harmful content on our platform,” the spokesperson said.
Jugendschutz.net, the joint German center of expertise from the federal government, the states, and the state media authorities for protecting children and adolescents on the internet, also has concerns about Roblox. The platform is said to offer content related to extremism and sexualized violence, according to a report that, however, did not mention queer content. Roblox is legal in Germany, but the platform was raised by the USK (the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation) in January of this year from a 12+ rating to a 16+ rating.
“Homo-Propaganda” seit zwölf Jahren untersagt
Russia had in 2013 enacted the “Law on the Prohibition of Propaganda of Non-Traditional Sexual Relationships among Minors,” also known as the “Homo-Propaganda” or “LGBT propaganda” law. This effectively bans public visibility of queer people. With the invasion of Ukraine, Russia intensified its crackdown on sexual and gender minorities. For example, around 2023 the “international LGBT movement” was banned as an extremist organization (TheColu.mn reported). The crusade has led to some absurd consequences: Moscow police even dissolved a “My Little Pony” convention over alleged “homo-propaganda” (TheColu.mn reported).
In Russia, other popular internet services are also officially banned: Facebook and Instagram are blocked because their parent company Meta has been labeled “extremist.” Independent news sites, such as Deutsche Welle, cannot be accessed in Russia without workarounds. (dk)
