Iraq has banned Roblox, the U.S. gaming and metaverse platform, citing child protection concerns and content incompatible with national traditions, government officials said on Sunday.
Authorities argued that Roblox’s interactive features—including chat and user-generated content—allowed direct communication between users that could expose minors to exploitation or cyber-extortion. A government study reportedly found that the platform posed “security, social, and behavioral risks” to Iraqi children and teenagers.
In response, Roblox Corp said it was committed to player safety and disputed the claims. “We believe these concerns are based on an outdated understanding of our platform,” a spokesperson said, noting that Roblox had already suspended in-game chat in Arabic-speaking countries, including Iraq, earlier this year.
The ban places Iraq among a growing number of Middle Eastern countries tightening controls over digital games. Turkey banned Roblox in 2024, also citing child abuse risks and moral concerns about online interactions.
Analysts say Iraq’s decision reflects a regional trend toward greater scrutiny of virtual platforms that combine gaming, social networking, and user-generated content—spaces that governments view as potentially unregulated and culturally disruptive.
