Roblox issues statement following Turkish ban for causing ‘abuse of children’

Beginning on August 7, Turkey imposed a ban on Roblox, alleging that it promotes child abuse. As a result, millions of Turkish gamers found themselves unable to play their favorite games on the site. In response, Roblox has issued a statement indicating they are collaborating with local officials to rectify this situation and restore access to the platform at the earliest opportunity.

Turkey bans Roblox

Via a social media update, Turkey’s Justice Minister Yılmaz TUNÇ explained the grounds for banning Roblox. This action was taken because of worries about content potentially used to exploit children.

As a devoted fan, I regret to share that my access to the game platform known as Roblox has been restricted due to an order from the Adana 6th Criminal Court of Peace. This action was taken under the “Law on Regulation of Publications Made in the Internet Environment and Combating Crimes Committed by Means of Such Publications,” following an investigation conducted by the Adana Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, due to content within the platform that could potentially facilitate child exploitation. I eagerly await updates regarding the situation.

The initial announcement didn’t provide more specifics, but it’s been made clear that Roblox is cooperating with law enforcement agencies to address this problem.

Anyone who cares about our country’s future and the well-being of our nation, especially those in leadership positions, should address such issues with consideration for our children. It’s important to avoid inflammatory and reckless language.
Actions that undermine the social fabric, exploit children, promote violence, or hinder their growth – each child being a valuable asset – will never be tolerated.

Today, Roblox clarified their stance regarding the Turkish ban, emphasizing their dedication to staying cautious and abiding by local regulations.

On August 7th, we discovered that access to Roblox was restricted in Turkey. We are actively collaborating with local officials, aiming to resolve this issue. It’s essential to note that millions of people in Turkey utilize our platform daily, including a thriving community of developers whose businesses are based on Roblox. Our priority is ensuring the safety of our community, and we align with global policy-makers’ efforts to safeguard children. In a statement, Roblox expressed their continuous vigilance against attempts to bypass safety measures. They frequently engage with policymakers about matters affecting young people, eagerly anticipating discussions in Turkey to swiftly restore access for Roblox users.

Other Social Media Platfomrms Under investigation

In addition to Roblox, Turkey has taken steps to address concerns with other social media platforms such as Instagram. This move follows a ban on Instagram in Turkey last week due to its restriction on posting condolences for the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, according to Fortune.

What is Roblox?

In simpler terms, Roblox is an online world where people can make their own games and let others play them too, including friends and the larger community. These games are updated frequently for players to explore. Additionally, users can communicate with each other and use virtual currency, which they can earn or buy, to spend within the platform.

On Roblox, what people typically refer to as games are called “experiences.” This platform is free for anyone to play, but each experience might offer in-game purchases. It’s important to note that when a purchase is made on Roblox, the platform retains about 28%. There have been numerous experiences on Roblox that have become incredibly popular, with users creating hit games. Roblox was launched back in 2006, and today, over 50 million users play it daily. Despite its primarily young audience, Roblox’s popularity rivals that of some well-known apps.