Roblox banned in Türkiye following nationwide Instagram block

Roblox, the widely popular online gaming platform, is banned in Türkiye on Wednesday, a move that comes in the wake of a nationwide block on Instagram. This decision has intensified discussions on digital freedom and content moderation practices within the country.

Why Türkiye banned Roblox?

Türkiye’s Roblox ban was primarily motivated by reports of inappropriate sexual content on the platform, which was perceived as exploiting children, according to a Directorate of Communications official. Additional issues that led to Türkiye’s ban on Roblox included claims that Roblox hosted virtual parties promoting pedophilia and that “robux,” the platform’s virtual currency, was being distributed by bot accounts to encourage children’s involvement in these activities, and excess presence of gambling sites and their predatory tactics.

The official also noted significant challenges in monitoring and regulating content on Roblox, contributing to the decision. The Adana Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation into these matters, which ultimately led to the nationwide restriction.

Türkiye banned Roblox 5 days after Instagram ban

On August 2, 2024, Türkiye’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) had announced that Instagram would be blocked nationwide, affecting 57.1 million users. The ban, enforced under BTK’s discretionary power, is anticipated to be formalized by court order within 24 to 48 hours, according to ruling number 490.05.01.2024-608903. No official explanation or timeline for the ban was provided. Other Meta-owned platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp remain accessible.

The block on Instagram was reportedly triggered by the platform’s restriction of posts concerning Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, following his reported assassination. This action has led to mounting dissatisfaction in Türkiye over perceived censorship. Fahrettin Altun, head of the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, condemned Instagram’s actions as an assault on freedom of expression and global justice.

“We will continue to defend freedom of expression against platforms that serve global exploitation and injustice,” Altun stated.

Following the Instagram block, Türkiye has now extended its internet restrictions by banning Roblox. While specific reasons for the Roblox ban have not been disclosed, the decision has left millions of users in Türkiye unable to access Roblox, further fueling debates on digital freedom and government control over online content.