Roblox Admits Moderation Failures as Russia Demands Stronger Child Protection

The administration of Roblox platform expressed its readiness to gradually bring its operations into line with the requirements of Russian legislation, according to a statement released by Roskomnadzor, Russia's media and internet regulator.

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Kids playing computer games

According to the watchdog, the platform acknowledged that it had previously failed to provide adequate moderation of in-game content and did not sufficiently ensure the safety of user communications, particularly in chats involving minors. The regulator noted that until recently, Roblox had ignored official demands related to these issues.

Regulator Awaits Concrete Steps From the Platform

Roskomnadzor stated that the administration of Roblox has now approached the agency with a declared willingness to cooperate in implementing measures aimed at removing destructive and dangerous content, preventing criminal activity, and curbing unlawful user communications on the platform.

"If this is not merely a statement but a genuine readiness to change the platform's attitude toward ensuring children's safety on the internet, Roskomnadzor will interact with the platform as it does with any other service that complies with Russian legislation,” the regulator said.

Why Roblox Attracted Regulatory Scrutiny

Roblox is a global online platform that allows users to create games and play those developed by others. The service represents a vast virtual ecosystem spanning multiple genres and is particularly popular among children, teenagers, and young adults who communicate and build virtual worlds together.

Worldwide, the platform counts up to 400 million active users. A significant share of this audience consists of children and young people aged between 9 and 24. As of July 2025, Russia ranked among the countries with the largest number of monthly active users, recording approximately 6.8 million unique visits per month, behind only the United States and Brazil.

Reasons Behind the Roblox Block in Russia

Roskomnadzor announced the blocking of Roblox in early December, explaining that the platform's internal moderation systems were unable to guarantee full content safety. According to the regulator, inappropriate material was widely present in the game environment, posing risks to the moral and psychological development of children.

The agency specifically pointed to virtual rooms and locations where users could simulate terrorist attacks, engage in gambling activities, or participate in other illegal scenarios. Officials also expressed concern over reports of minors being subjected to sexual harassment, extortion for intimate images, and coercion into harmful or violent behavior.

Public Reaction and Political Commentary

Ekaterina Mizulina, head of the League for Safe Internet, previously claimed that many children reacted emotionally to the platform's blocking, with some expressing a desire to leave the country. In response, Dmitry Peskov, press secretary to President Vladimir Putin, said the Kremlin had received numerous appeals from children, emphasizing that they were focused on access to the game itself rather than emigration.

Whether Roblox will follow through on its stated intentions now remains a key question. Russian authorities have made clear that future cooperation depends on concrete actions rather than declarations, particularly when it comes to protecting minors in digital environments.