In August 2024, Turkey imposed a nationwide ban on Roblox, citing the platform’s lack of content regulation and safety measures, particularly in its protection of children. The decision was made by the Adana Sixth Criminal and Peace Court in Turkey, which invoked the relevant provisions of Turkey's Internet Governance Law to immediately block access to Roblox and its related websites. Under the law, if a court determines that the content on an online platform is illegal, the Director of the Information Technology and Communications Authority (BTK) has 24 hours to review the decision, and if the decision to ban is upheld, it must be implemented within four hours.
As of Q2 2024, Roblox saw an average of 79.5 million daily users, who spent a collective 17.4 billion hours on the platform. This means each user spends over 200 hours annually on Roblox, equating to approximately 40 minutes each day.
While Roblox offers a fun space for minors to engage in digital games and even learn basic programming, it has also been criticized for exposing them to explicit content, grooming, and cyberbullying. The platform has been widely criticized for failing to address these safety concerns.
In recent years, Roblox has faced mounting criticism regarding its safety record, particularly concerning incidents where criminals used the platform to engage in illegal activities targeting minors. According to data compiled by Bloomberg Businessweek, since 2018, U.S. law enforcement has arrested at least twenty individuals involved in crimes such as kidnapping or abuse of minors they met or groomed through Roblox. Some of these suspects had prior records of sexual offenses or abuse. Among those arrested were a deputy sheriff, a third-grade teacher, and a nurse.
In the past 13 months alone, seven individuals have been arrested, including a Florida man charged with attempting to kidnap a teenager he met while playing Roblox, a New Jersey man accused of kidnapping an 11-year-old girl he met on the platform, and a California man arrested for abusing a child he also met on Roblox. These offenders used Roblox to lure children into sending photos or building relationships with them before moving to other online platforms, eventually meeting offline.
The Information and Communication Technology Authority (BTK) of Turkey stated that one of the main reasons for the ban was the inability to effectively monitor and regulate inappropriate content on Roblox. BTK argued that the platform’s “supervisory mechanisms” were insufficient to address these issues, which led to the decision to implement the ban. A BTK official outlined four key reasons for the ban:
1. Sexual Exploitation
The primary reason for Turkey’s ban on Roblox was reports of sexual exploitation of minors on the platform. Authorities expressed serious concern about the presence of such content and its impact on young users, prompting decisive action to block the platform.
2. Reports of Pedophilia
Another factor was the platform’s virtual gatherings, which were alleged to be gathering places for pedophiles. This was one of the key reasons for Turkey’s decision to block access to Roblox.
3. Virtual Currency Incentives for Children
BTK also highlighted concerns regarding Roblox’s virtual currency, Robux. Reports showed that bot accounts were distributing Robux to encourage children to engage in suspicious activities. Additionally, predatory gambling targeting children was found on the platform. These factors further contributed to Turkey’s decision to ban Roblox, reflecting BTK's concerns about the abuse of virtual incentive mechanisms.
4. Content Regulation Challenges
The inability to effectively monitor and regulate inappropriate content on Roblox was a key factor in the decision to block access. BTK emphasized that the platform's oversight mechanisms were inadequate to resolve these reported issues, leading to the imposition of the access restrictions.
In response to the ban by Turkish authorities, Roblox issued a statement on August 8, 2024:
“On August 7, we were informed that Roblox was blocked in Turkey. We are urgently working to understand the issue and resolve it.” The company further stated:
“We recognize that millions of users in Turkey, including a vibrant developer community whose businesses rely on Roblox, use our platform every day. We are continually working to ensure the safety of our community, and we are committed to child protection, just as we collaborate with policymakers worldwide.”
