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As part of a ongoing campaign to exert greater control over digital platforms, state officials have cut off access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Ban

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor claimed that the two apps were employed to plan and execute terrorist acts within the country, to enlist people and carry out fraud and other crimes aimed at the populace.

Officials said it took action targeting Snapchat back on the 10th of October, although the announcement was only reported more recently.

Wider Context of Digital Crackdown

These new restrictions are part of previous restrictions against popular services such as YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. This wave of bans intensified after the onset of the conflict of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have undertaken systematic and wide-ranging initiatives to rein in the internet. Actions have involved:

• Adopting restrictive laws.
• Banning online services that fail to comply with local rules.
• Developing technical capabilities to track and influence online traffic.

Other Instances of Blocks

Service for YouTube was slowed previously in a case of intentional slowing by officials. Authorities blamed YouTube's owner, Google for not properly maintaining its infrastructure in Russia.

This summer, officials limited internet access with widespread outages of cellular data connections. The government claimed this was necessary to thwart drone strikes, but experts saw it as another step to assert dominance over the internet.

Targeting Messaging Apps

Regulators has also moved against widely-used communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were banned in recently. Additionally, officials outlawed voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, defending the action by stating the two apps were being used for criminal activities.

Simultaneously, authorities have championed a dubbed "national" communication platform called "Max". Observers regard it as a potential monitoring instrument. The app explicitly states it will hand over data with the government if demanded, and experts note it is not equipped with full encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Commentary

Per lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework classifies any service where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This label mandates that platforms establish a presence with Roskomnadzor and allow the FSB with access to user data. Those failing to meet these demands are breaking the law and face blocking.

Seleznev noted that possibly a large number of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on other messaging apps. He called the blocking of the service as "predictable" and stated that other sites refusing to comply with authorities "are likely to be blocked – it is inevitable."

Gaming Sites Also Affected

As another action, the authorities reported it was banning the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at child protection from inappropriate material. Per data from research group Mediascope, Roblox was the number two game platform in Russia recently, with nearly eight million players.

While it is still feasible to get around a few of these blocks by utilizing virtual private network services, VPNs themselves are frequently targeted by authorities as well.