Russian Gamers Protest in the Street Against Roblox Ban

In a display of courage, a few dozens of people have protested against the Roblox ban in Russia, asking for the return of the popular game.

Roblox has been the centerpiece of numerous legal controversies, and the company is facing a wave of lawsuits and complaints across the world. For the most part, the legal problems stem from the same root cause: Roblox had become (some changes have been made in the past year) a haven for child predators and disturbing content that kids could access with a few clicks.

Protest context

Russian internet watchdog Roskomnadzor banned the game across the country on Dec. 3, citing issues very different from those that caused legal troubles for Roblox in the Western world.

"This measure was taken due to the site's systematic distribution of materials containing propaganda and justification of extremist and terrorist activity, calls for violent actions, and information related to LGBT issues," wrote Russian press agency Tass.

The Russian authorities said that Roblox's internal moderation systems cannot ensure, with 100% accuracy, that all offending materials can be removed from the game.

While Roskomnadzor hinted at core problems Roblox faces in its other legal suits, the regulator also brings a number of other accusations – including related to the nationwide wartime crackdown.

"Within these spaces, users, including minors, may be offered scenarios simulating terrorist attacks or attacks on educational institutions, as well as gambling. Furthermore, there have been reports of sexual harassment of children in gaming environments, solicitation of intimate images, and incitement to unlawful sexual acts and violence," the press agency added.

The protest may seem small, but it's important

Russia has banned many other online services in its quest to mute dissenting voices, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and YouTube.

Protests don't really happen in Russia anymore, mostly because people are quickly arrested. But it seems the Roblox ban is a powerful enough driver that around 25 people went out in the small city of Tomsk (Siberia) to request that their favorite gaming platform be restored, according to a Reuters report.

The ban itself isn't enforced in any serious way, as players can still use VPNs to access it. What makes this protest interesting is that people risk their freedom for a game in a country that's known to imprison citizens for simple dissent.