The compromise a popular gaming platform banned in Russia is willing to make to get back online
A little girl uses a smartphone showing the Roblox app on Nov. 20, 2024. Illustrative image. PHOTO: Marijan Murat / DPA / Profimedia
US online gaming platform Roblox said on Wednesday it is willing to modify some of its features in Russia in an attempt to get the ban imposed earlier this month lifted, Reuters reports.
Russia's communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, announced the ban on December 3, citing child safety concerns, prompting outrage from some Russian users and even a rare protest over the weekend in the Siberian city of Tomsk.
Russia's Interfax news agency cited a statement from Roskomnadzor on Wednesday as saying the American company had contacted it and expressed its willingness to comply with Russian law.
“If this is not just a statement, but a sincere desire of the platform to change its approach to protect the safety of children online, then Roskomnadzor will interact with the platform as it does with any other service that complies with Russian law,” the watchdog said, according to the news agency.
Roblox plans to continue discussions with Roskomnadzor
A Roblox spokesperson confirmed contact with the watchdog in an emailed comment to Reuters.
Roblox is prepared to “temporarily limit communication functions in Russia and review content moderation processes to meet the legal requirements necessary to restore our community's access to the platform,” the spokesperson said.
It added: “Roblox intends to continue dialogue with Roskomnadzor as access to the platform is restored, including discussions on additional compliance measures that may be considered over time.”
The spokesman declined to comment, however, on when the ban might be lifted. A user who tried to access Roblox in Moscow on Wednesday reported seeing a white screen and a message saying “checking for updates.”
Roblox has been banned by several countries, including Iraq and Turkey, due to concerns about predators exploiting the platform to abuse children. The company says it complies with national laws and is deeply committed to user safety.
Any deal to restore access to Roblox would represent a rare compromise in Russia's long-running disputes with American technology companies.
Russia has introduced wartime censorship that blocks or restricts a number of foreign social media platforms, including Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube and Apple's FaceTime video calling app.
Russian officials say the measures are needed to defend against sophisticated “information warfare” waged by Western powers and against “decadent” Western culture that undermines traditional Russian values.
VPNs allow Russians to bypass bans
Many people get around the bans by using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Some young Russians have questioned the logic of such restrictions, if they can be circumvented so easily; others wonder why there are so few Russian alternatives to banned Western apps.
Some Russian parents and teachers have expressed concern that Roblox allows children to access sexual content and communicate with adults.
Roskomnadzor stated that Roblox promised to take the necessary measures “to remove destructive and dangerous information and to prevent criminal activities and user communications on the platform.”
A Roblox spokesperson stated, “Roblox is deeply committed to the safety of our users, with a robust set of proactive and preventative security measures designed to detect and prevent harmful content on our platform.”
