Over the weekend, The Ministry of Communications in Iraq announced a nationwide ban on the popular user-generated gaming platform Roblox. The decision stems from a ruling by the Iraqi Supreme Court, which cited “a comprehensive study and field monitoring” that marked the platform as posing numerous dangers to society. It listed child safety, moral values, inappropriate content, blasphemy, and online blackmail as potential risks.
This decision follows a recent move by the UAE to temporarily remove Roblox’s in-game chat feature across several Arab countries due to similar concerns. Earlier bans had already been enacted against the site in countries such as Turkey, Jordan, and Qatar.
A promotional image for Roblox – Photo Credit: Roblox
Roblox Corporation has not yet responded to the platform’s ban in Iraq.
The company has faced numerous lawsuits in the U.S. in relation to these concerns, but has not experienced censorship like it has in the Middle East. Some have accused Visa and MasterCard of being complicit in allowing these problems to persist on Roblox, despite having demonstrated their ability to pressure platforms into submission.
Roblox Attempts to Save Face
Roblox Corporation, in an apparent attempt to save their reputation, acknowledged the public concern, and stated that it also wanted to keep young users safe.
A promotional image for Roblox – Photo Credit: Roblox
“(We) respect the laws and regulations in countries where we operate and share local lawmakers’ commitment to children,” they said.
In September, Revealing Reality led an investigation into Roblox as a follow-up to the rising tide of concern around the platform.
The group found that the company had, in fact, implemented new safety features. Notable changes include: age verification in order to play “17+” restricted games, more stringent content filtering and moderation, as well as new parental controls which allow parents to self-moderate their children’s activities.
These all sound like perfectly reasonable, common-sense changes, so why does this constitute a total ban from the Iraqi government?
Faux Changes Might Drive The Roblox Ban in Iraq
The timing of this ban suggests that it could have been motivated by additional factors beyond the platform’s longstanding issues, especially in the context of these “safety updates.” Many have observed a lack of real change, and have come to the conclusion that the company is unwilling to actually address the root problems.
A promotional image for Roblox – Photo Credit: Roblox
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Critics have pointed out that the age verification on mature games has merely driven users to areas of the platform which sound slightly more innocuous. Games titled “Mic Up” and “Therapy sessions” have drawn scrutiny from research groups for not being age-restricted, meaning they still pose massive risks to unsupervised minors.
The epidemic of predatory adults disguising themselves as children is ever prevalent on Roblox. These individuals are constantly trying to circumvent filters on the platform.
A screenshot from the Roblox trailer – YouTube, Roblox
The situation mirrors broader online discussions regarding censorship, with many concluding that filters merely provide the appearance of safety, rather than preventing harm.
It appears that, so long as Roblox—a platform designed primarily for children—maintains its open chat features, it will inevitably continue to expose younger users to interactions with ill-intentioned strangers.
What do you think about this Iraq Roblox ban? Is this a step in the right direction, or is it an instance of government overreach? Sound off in the comments section below!
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This is NOT a good thing people.
You DONT have the GOVERNMENT decide what YOU can own, have, say, or do.
What SHOULD have happened was Parants actually PARENT and not let their Kids on it if they were worried. Most Parents today grew up on Video Games, so they know what it’s like in a COD Lobby, or any Online Game.
This can be a sign of bad things to come people…………
This is in Iraq, you dolt. The people there don’t have the same kind of experience with video games thanks to decades of So Damn Insane ruling before Dubya finished his daddy’s efforts and the people there actually support this sort of government ban. This isn’t the US: different country, different culture, different rules.
I’m more then aware it’s not America dumbăss.
People however WANT this kind of stuff due to Creeps online, and we even have seen it all the way back since the 2000s with the Psycho Religious Leftists who wanted GTA banned.
Recently RFKjr said “Violent Video Games” may cause School Shootings. The same lie the Left said over 20 years ago. I’m just stating people will champion this without realizing you are giving up Rights, and giving the Government more power.
When a dictatorship with appalling human rights lectures the West on morality, and has a point, then we know that Western Civisation is screwed. Europe most of all is committing suicide.