CAIRO, Egypt — Egyptian authorities have officially blocked the online gaming platform Roblox, citing concerns that the platform exposes children to harmful content and promotes behavior deemed unsafe, according to Egyptian media reports.
The decision was announced by Essam al-Amir, deputy head of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCMR), during a Senate session convened to examine the risks posed by children’s use of mobile phones and digital applications.
The Youm7 newspaper reported that the move followed recommendations by the council to restrict digital platforms that promote what it described as “deviant behavior” or encourage violence among minors.
Al-Amir said the council had issued a formal decision to block Roblox and was working with the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) to implement the necessary technical measures to enforce the ban.
He noted that the platform had gained widespread popularity among Egyptian children, raising alarm among regulators and lawmakers.
The action places Egypt among a growing list of Middle Eastern countries tightening controls on the gaming platform.
Between August and September 2025, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman imposed restrictions on Roblox after issuing warnings over potential risks to child safety, including exposure to inappropriate content and unregulated interactions with strangers.
Roblox, a free interactive gaming platform launched nearly two decades ago, allows users to create their own virtual worlds using simple programming tools.
Players can engage in shared adventures, communicate through real-time chat, and interact with users across borders. The platform has become especially popular among children and teenagers.
However, Roblox has faced increasing international scrutiny.
In August 2025, the US state of Louisiana filed a lawsuit accusing the company of facilitating child exploitation.
Roblox dismissed the claims as “false,” according to the BBC, insisting it had robust safety systems in place.
Data cited by the UK’s Guardian in May 2025 showed that Roblox had approximately 85 million users globally, with about 40pc under the age of 13.
In the United States alone, more than 13,000 cases of child exploitation linked to the platform were recorded in 2023, with at least 1,200 formal abuse reports submitted directly to Roblox.
Bloomberg reported in 2024 that US law enforcement agencies had arrested at least 24 individuals since 2018 on charges related to kidnapping or mistreatment of people they allegedly met or lured through the platform.
Despite the controversies, Roblox continues to grow.
The company said in August that it had 111.8 million average daily active users, who collectively send about 6.1 billion chat messages and upload millions of user-generated creations each day.
Egypt’s decision comes amid a wider global debate over regulating digital platforms as the video games industry expands.
The global gaming market now exceeds 3.4 billion players and is valued at nearly $200 billion, according to unofficial 2024 estimates.
