Russia Bans Roblox, Sparking Rare Public Protests in Siberia
Russia's recent ban on the U.S.-based gaming platform Roblox has ignited unexpected public dissent, with dozens protesting in Tomsk, Siberia. Demonstrators braved freezing temperatures to hold signs reading 'Hands off Roblox' and 'Roblox is the victim of the digital Iron Curtain.'
The Kremlin's media regulator Roskomnadzor justified the ban by accusing Roblox of hosting 'extremist materials' and 'LGBT propaganda,' claiming the platform's content could harm children's development. This MOVE continues Russia's pattern of wartime censorship, though the backlash marks a rare display of public opposition to digital restrictions.