CAIRO: Egypt’s top media regulator blocked access on Wednesday to the US-owned gaming platform Roblox over child safety concerns, joining several other governments that have moved to restrict the popular app.
Roblox has been banned by countries including Qatar, Iraq and Turkiye, and US states such as Texas and Louisiana have filed lawsuits citing similar risks.
Egypt’s Supreme Council for Media Regulation announced the ban soon after several senators called for tighter controls on the platform, arguing that it contained inappropriate, violent and otherwise unsuitable content for children.
Senator Walaa Hermes warned that excessive use of Roblox could expose children to “anxiety, bullying, online harassment, incitement to violence and other financial and behavioral risks.”
The move follows President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s call last month for new legislation aimed at protecting children from the risks of early smartphone use, though he did not specify an age limit.
