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Tengrinews.kz — In the corridors of the Senate, journalists asked whether Kazakhstan is considering restricting access to or blocking the popular game Roblox. The question was answered by Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Yevgeniy Kochetov.
According to him, blocking the platform is not being discussed at this time.
“At this stage, we are not considering the issue of restricting access to or blocking Roblox. Looking ahead, I will also mention the restriction on registering users under 16 on online platforms. Under the legislation, Roblox is not considered an online platform. That is, even if these norms are adopted, Roblox will not be affected in any way,” the deputy minister replied.
Kochetov also added that the Ministry of Culture and Information and other government bodies have not officially received complaints from parents about Roblox, “so for now everything is working as it was.”
Context
The Ministry of Culture and Information has developed a law on online platforms and mass media. One of its provisions is a ban on children under 16 creating accounts on social networks and any online platforms.
If the law is adopted, teenagers under 16 will not be able to register on TikTok, Instagram, video-hosting services such as YouTube, and other services. An exception will be made only for messengers. According to the Ministry of Culture and Information, this would reduce the amount of “unlawful content” and make the internet safer for children.
The document is currently published on the “Open NPAs” portal for public discussion.
What is Roblox
Roblox is an online platform where users can play and create games, as well as communicate with each other. According to the company, the platform has about 151.5 million active users each quarter, who spend nearly 40 billion hours there.
The ease of registration and freedom of interaction have made Roblox a favorite game among schoolchildren, but this openness has also attracted the attention of those who use the platform for criminal purposes. Experts note that attackers can meet children in chats, move the conversation to private channels, and try to entice them into dangerous actions.
