Iraq Bans Roblox Game Platforms Due To Children's Safety Concerns

Roblox game illustration (photo: x @roblox)

JAKARTA - The Iraqi government has officially banned the online gaming platform from the United States, Roblox, citing concerns about the safety of children in cyberspace. This decision put Iraq on a list of Middle Eastern countries that tighten surveillance of interactive games and platforms to protect the social and moral values of its people.

In a statement released late Sunday, October 19, the Iraqi government said that Roblox allows direct communication between users, which is considered to have the potential to pave the way for cyber exploitation or extortion of children and adolescents. In addition, the content of the game content is considered "incompatible with the values and social traditions of Iraq."

The Iraqi Ministry of Communication confirmed that the prohibition decision was taken based on the results of a thorough study and field monitoring that found a risk of security, social and behavior' from the use of the game.

Responding to the ban, Roblox Corp stated that user security is the company's top priority and they wish to have a dialogue with the Iraqi government so that access can reopen.

"We reject the claims made by Iraqi authorities because they are based on an outdated understanding of our platform," said a Roblox spokesperson. He added that earlier this year, Roblox had indeed disabled communication features such as in-game chats for users in Arabic-speaking countries, including Iraq, as a temporary precaution.

The ban follows Turkey's move, which in August 2024 also blocked access to Roblox for the same reason, namely the potential risk of abuse against children.

This phenomenon reflects growing concerns in the Middle East region about the social and moral impacts of the virtual world, along with the rapid growth of the digital economy and online game platforms among the younger generation.