Egyptian court threw out Roblox block challenge on standing, not substance

A court challenge to Egypt's block on Roblox has failed without the judges ruling on whether the ban was lawful. The reasons, deposited by the Administrative Court and reported by Egyptian media on 18 October, explain that the case was thrown out because the plaintiff never showed how the decision affected him personally.

The block. According to the court papers, the Supreme Council for Media Regulation decided on 4 February 2026, in coordination with the National Telecom Regulatory Authority, to cut access to Roblox inside Egypt. The court described the measure as covering the app in mobile download stores as well as the platform's website and accounts.

The challenge. Hani Sameh filed case 32894 of judicial year 80 on 5 February against the media council, the telecom regulator, the prime minister and the communications minister. He argued that the platform hosts thousands of user-built games that can teach design and coding, that the block hit millions of users and creators at once, and that limits on freedoms should be proportionate. As a fallback he asked the court to replace the blanket block with narrower protections. A second person joined the case on his side during preparation.

The ruling. The Third Circuit reserved judgment on 21 June, deferred the ruling once, from 9 July, and ruled on 9 September. Citing article 3 of the civil procedure law and article 12 of the Council of State law, it said a challenger must hold a personal, direct and existing interest. Because the plaintiff had not explained what practical benefit cancelling the block would bring him, the suit was inadmissible and he was ordered to pay costs.

Why it matters: Egyptian game developers, Roblox creators and parents get no court view on whether the block was justified; the ruling leaves the media council's decision untouched. The court did not say who, if anyone, would have standing to bring a fresh challenge.