Turkey just straight-up banned Roblox for 'child exploitation'

The Turkish government has effectively banned Roblox in the country, blocking access to all users citing concerns over «child exploitation.» The move comes five days after the same body, the Turkish Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK), blocked Instagram in the country, for which no reason has been given (although it is speculated that this relates to how the platform restricted posts about Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, following his assassination).

An official from the BTK outlined four reasons for the ban to the publication Turkey Today. First is «sexual exploitation concerns», with the ban «primarily driven by reports of sexual content on Roblox that allegedly exploits children.» The second is «rampant reports of pedophilia», with «the platform’s virtual parties accused of being a gathering spot for pedophiles», which ties into the third problem: Robux. The BTK claims Robux is used «to incentivize children’s participation in the aforementioned problematic activities» as well as gambling. 

Finally, the BTK says «the inability to effectively monitor and regulate inappropriate content on Roblox was a critical factor in the decision.» It says that Roblox Corporation's «oversight mechanisms» are insufficient to address these issues, hence the ban.

Turkey's Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said Roblox «contains content that could lead to the abuse of children,» later adding on Twitter that «It is everyone's duty to look out for, protect and support the best interests of our children, the guarantors of our future.»

Roblox Corporation has subsequently issued this statement to BBC Turkey: «We are aware that Roblox is currently unavailable in Turkey and we have contacted the relevant authorities to find out why and ensure we are back online as soon as possible.»

However the decision to simply ban Roblox, and the Instagram context, has infuriated some prominent Turkish figures. The Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu, said that «after Instagram, it is