Has Roblox been unblocked? Statement from the Minister

Posts spreading rapidly on social media in recent days have led to claims that the access ban on Roblox might have been lifted. While numerous users suggested that the platform, which has been inaccessible for approximately 680 days, is active again, Erzincan MP Mustafa Sarıgül also stated in a post on the subject, "I went to the Roblox headquarters, I worked day and night. Good news, we will play Roblox together."

However, despite these posts, there is no confirmation that the game has been officially unblocked. A current inquiry on the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) website shows that the address "roblox.com" remains blocked by the decision of the Adana 6th Criminal Court of Peace dated 07/08/2024. It has been determined that this decision is still in effect and that access to the platform is not possible.

STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTER: "WE DID NOT ACTUALLY IMPOSE THE BAN"

In the shadow of the ongoing debate, Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş also made notable remarks on the subject. She said, "Regarding Roblox specifically, this was actually an administrative decision. A local court closed it following an application by a citizen in Adana. Our Ministry had no involvement here. Therefore, it has been closed for nearly two years. Roblox has come to meet with us repeatedly. They have repeatedly discussed a age verification system specific to Turkey. We expressed our sensitivities."

Minister Göktaş emphasized that their primary goal is to ensure that children spend time in the internet environment more safely. She also stated that they have no intention of banning the platform entirely and added: "On the other hand, we do not want a 65-year-old or 50-year-old man to take on the role of a 13-year-old child and chat with a 13-year-old child. We want to prevent this. Therefore, we want these contents to be properly controlled and carried out in a way that is appropriate for our children's mental, psychological, and individual development. But we said this; our system is open to those who comply with these conditions."

The Minister also drew attention to the importance of Roblox having an official representative in Turkey and implementing age ratings in games. Pointing out that the BTK is the primary authority in managing the process, Göktaş stated that the final decision regarding the status of the platform will again be made by judicial authorities.