"Roblox" seeks to lift its ban in Iraq

“Roblox”, the electronic game platform, seeks to communicate with the relevant authorities in Iraq to clarify any misunderstanding related to the platform and its working mechanism in an effort to lift its ban in the country, taking advantage of its experiences with the official authorities in the region, according to the company’s statement to Al-Sharq. The platform expressed its welcome for dialogue with the Iraqi authorities to address the matter, and to restore the platform’s operation in the country as soon as possible. This effort comes two days after the Iraqi government banned the platform based on outdated information that did not reflect the platform’s efforts to ensure the safety and protection of users in the Middle East, joining other countries in taking strict measures against virtual worlds. The government said late last Sunday that the ban was motivated by concerns that the game allows direct communication between users in ways that expose children and teenagers to attempts at online exploitation or extortion. Ban in several countries: Several countries in the Middle East have imposed bans on the “Roblox” platform in recent months, including Oman, Qatar and Kuwait, and Türkiye preceded them last year. As for Saudi Arabia, the largest regional market for electronic games, the General Authority for Media Regulation ordered the company to stop text and voice conversations and tighten content controls on the platform. Read more: “Roblox” games… Why are they banned and restricted by Arab countries? Earlier this year, the platform banned the in-game chat feature in some countries in the region, including Iraq, as a proactive measure to prevent any inappropriate behavior. “Roblox” is not just one game, but a huge platform that includes millions of games and interactive worlds created by players themselves. It combines play, design, programming and social interaction, and attracts children and teenagers in particular. A report issued by the company last February revealed that the number of daily active users in the Middle East and North Africa region increased by 80% between the third quarter of 2021 and the third quarter of 2024, while total hours of play time increased by 76% during the same period. In February 2025, Roblox announced the official launch of Arabic language support among a group of 16 languages ​​during the World Government Summit Forum in Dubai, as part of its effort to strengthen its presence in the region.