Kurdistan bans online game Roblox following Iraq's similar move

ERBIL,— Authorities in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region have ordered internet providers to block the online game Roblox from family data packages, citing concerns over children’s safety, according to a ministerial decree issued Thursday.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications said that the directive applies to all licensed telecommunications and internet service providers in the Kurdistan Region.

The move follows a similar decision by Iraq’s federal government earlier this month to restrict access to the popular online game nationwide.

Roblox, one of the world’s largest gaming platforms, allows users to design, play, and socialize in shared virtual environments.

The game has faced restrictions in several countries, including Turkey, Russia, and Jordan, over concerns related to hate speech, child exploitation, and exposure to inappropriate content.

According to the ministry, the latest measure is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen online safety standards in family internet packages. It follows a directive issued on August 31 requiring providers to block violent videos and explicit websites accessible to minors.

Kurdistan bans online game Roblox. The Ministry of Transport and Communications in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region

Baghdad’s Ministry of Communications announced a similar nationwide ban on October 19, 2025 after a Supreme Federal Court ruling cited “security, social, and moral risks” associated with the game.

The ministry said the decision came after “detailed studies and field monitoring,” which found that Roblox could expose children to “electronic exploitation, blackmail, and harassment.”

Iraq’s Communications Minister Hayam al-Yasiri said that Roblox “harms children and families” and includes “violence, offensive language, and immoral themes.”

She added that excessive use of such games and social media platforms can “weaken social relationships and negatively affect physical health due to inactivity.”

However, IT experts have noted that restrictions like these can be bypassed using virtual private networks, or VPNs, allowing users to access Roblox even when official blocks are in place.

Iraq has previously restricted several online games over similar concerns. In 2019, Parliament voted to ban PUBG Mobile, Fortnite, and Blue Whale, saying they encouraged violence and contributed to mental health issues.

In 2018, the Islamic Fatwa Committee in Sulaimani city in Kurdistan Region ruled that playing PUBG Mobile during work or study hours was considered “haram” under Islamic law.

(With files from Agencies)