Turkey has restricted access to the widely-played online game platform Roblox due to worries about content that might result in child mistreatment, according to the nation's justice minister.
"Our nation is mandated to implement the appropriate actions to guarantee the safety of our youth," Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc stated on the social media platform X. "Employing technology negatively is never permissible." He revealed that a Turkish court had enforced the access restriction as part of an investigation by prosecutors in the southern province of Adana, citing concerns about content that could lead to child abuse. He provided no additional information.
Roblox did not promptly respond to numerous inquiries for comment from representatives in the United States and the UK. On its website, the company, which hosts user-generated games, states that its "safety & privacy systems and teams are continually evolving and innovating to ensure everyone feels secure on Roblox, every day."
This ban on Roblox follows Turkey's restriction of access to the social media platform Instagram last week, a decision made due to Instagram's non-compliance with specific laws and public sensitivities. Turkish officials have engaged in discussions with Instagram this week, but the matter remains unresolved.
