The ban in Russia of the American video game platform Roblox has fueled debate among some children and parents about censorship and the usefulness of bans in a world where minors can circumvent restrictions with a few clicks.
Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor said on Dec. 3 that it had blocked access to Roblox because it was “packed with inappropriate content,” spread extremist and LGBT propaganda and was popular with pedophiles.
In wartime Russia, censorship is extensive and Moscow blocks or restricts social media platforms such as Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and YouTube, while presenting its own narrative through Russian social media and media.
But the Roblox ban has struck a chord, leading to a small demonstration in the Siberian city of Tomsk, where protesters carried banners reading “Hands off Roblox” and “Roblox is the victim of the digital Iron Curtain.”
A Roblox spokesperson said in an emailed comment to Reuters that the company was willing “to temporarily limit communications features in Russia and review our content moderation processes to meet the legal requirements necessary to restore our community’s access to the platform.”
“Roblox intends to continue dialogue with Roskomnadzor as access to the platform is restored, including discussions about additional compliance measures that may be considered over time,” the spokesperson added.
Roblox states on its website that it offers “rigorous built-in safeguards to help keep users safe” and that it seeks to “create a safe and age-appropriate environment for each user.”
More context: Gaming platform Roblox promises changes to lift Russian ban
“A window to a world of games”
Russian authorities, at odds with the West over the war in Ukraine, maintain that censorship is necessary to defend against a Western “information war” and what they describe as a decadent Western culture that undermines “traditional” Russian values.
For many young Russians, Roblox was a window to a vast world of games and possible friendships around the planet. The Kremlin, without giving details, says it has received correspondence from many young people about the Roblox ban.
His sisters, Darya, 11, and Yekaterina, seven, also said they played on the Roblox platform.
“I think the kids will still find a way to get around it,” Darya Gerina said. “There have already been crashes of other apps and we have found a way to use them, so I think the kids will find a way and continue playing.”
Many Russians use VPNs (virtual private networks) to bypass digital censorship. Hundreds of VPNs have been banned this year, but new ones are appearing, leading some young Russians to question why authorities ban apps or sites that can be easily accessed, and why there are few Russian alternatives.
Concerns about “blockade evasion”
Some advocates of strict limits on what children can watch also express concern both about the security of VPNs and the impact of widespread circumvention of state rules.
“How many children have downloaded a three-letter app (geocoding system) in the last few days after the game was banned?” asked Yekaterina Mizulina, director of the censorship organization Safe Internet League.
Mizulina, who has been sanctioned by the European Union for enforcing Russian censorship, said some young people wanted to leave Russia because of the Roblox ban.
He stated that “massive circumvention of lockdowns also generates a general attitude of disdain towards government decisions.”
Maria Gerina, whose three daughters played on the Roblox platform, said she did not support an outright ban but would like assurances that apps are monitored for inappropriate content and contacts, and that there are alternatives.
“If it is controlled in some way and people especially follow what is happening, then I would feel calmer as a mother when my children are playing,” she said.
“But I don’t think an outright ban will solve the problem: if there’s no Roblox, then there will be something else.”
With information from Reuters.
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