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In a continued crackdown to increase oversight over digital platforms, Russian regulators have blocked access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on Apple's video calling service, FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Block

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor alleged that the two apps were employed to plan and execute terrorist acts inside Russia, to recruit perpetrators and engage in fraudulent activities along with other offenses targeting Russian citizens.

Officials stated it enforced the restriction against Snapchat in early October, though the move was only made public later.

Broader Context of Online Restrictions

This recent action are part of previous blocks imposed on popular services such as Google's YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. This wave of bans intensified following the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have undertaken deliberate and multi-pronged initiatives to curtail the open internet. This has included:

• Adopting restrictive laws.
• Outlawing digital platforms that refuse to cooperate with Russian regulations.
• Perfecting systems to track and influence online traffic.

Other Examples of Blocks

Service for YouTube was slowed in the past in what experts called targeted interference by regulators. The Kremlin attributed the issue to Google for failing to maintain its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, officials limited online access with extensive shutdowns of cellphone internet connections. Officials stated this was necessary to counter drone strikes, but critics argued another step to tighten control over the digital landscape.

Action Against Messaging Platforms

The government has also moved against popular communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were banned in this year. Additionally, officials outlawed voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, explaining the ban by claiming the two apps were being used for illegal activities.

Concurrently, authorities have actively promoted a dubbed "domestic" messenger app called "Max". Observers regard it as a potential tool for oversight. The service explicitly states it will share user data with officials when asked, and analysts note it is not equipped with strong encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Analysis

Per lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law defines any service where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This label requires that platforms register with the regulator and provide Russia's security service with access to user accounts. Services failing to comply are in violation and can get blocked.

Seleznev noted that possibly tens of millions of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the restrictions against the Apple service as "expected" and stated that other platforms failing to cooperate with authorities "will be blocked – it is inevitable."

Gaming Sites Too Targeted

As another move, the government also said it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at child protection from illicit content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second most popular gaming site in Russia recently, with nearly eight million active users.

While it remains feasible to circumvent some of these limitations by using VPN services, such tools are also often blocked by officials as well.