Update to a story published on October 20th to add a Roblox reply

Baghdad, October 22 (Reuters) - The Iraqi government said it has banned the video game platform Roblox because of concerns about children's safety , joining other countries in taking strict measures against virtual worlds.

The government said late Sunday that the ban was motivated by concerns that the game allows direct communication between users in ways that expose children and teenagers to online exploitation or blackmail, adding that its content "is incompatible with societal values and traditions."

Roblox Corp. said safety is its top priority and that it wants to work with the government to lift the ban on the platform.

A Roblox spokesperson said, "We strongly object to the recent claims made by Iraqi authorities, which we believe are based on an outdated understanding of our platform."

The spokesperson added that earlier this year, Roblox temporarily suspended some communication features such as in-game chat for users in Arabic-speaking countries, including Iraq.

The Iraqi Ministry of Communications said the nationwide ban was based on a comprehensive study and field monitoring that concluded that "the game involves several security, social and behavioral risks."

This move places Iraq among several Middle Eastern countries that are tightening regulations on online games and interactive platforms due to concerns about child safety and ethical issues. Turkey banned access to Roblox in August 2024, also citing risks of child abuse.

(Prepared by Muhammad Aysam and Marwa Salam for the Arabic Bulletin - Edited by Duaa Muhammad)