🔗 Share this article

In a ongoing crackdown to increase oversight over online communications, state officials have blocked access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on Apple's FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Restrictions

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor stated that the two apps were being used to plan and execute acts of terrorism on Russian soil, to enlist people and carry out fraud as well as various crimes against citizens.

The regulator stated it took action targeting Snapchat in early October, even though the announcement was only reported more recently.

Wider Campaign of Internet Control

This recent action follow previous blocks imposed on key apps like YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. The campaign of restrictions escalated after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, authorities have engaged in calculated and wide-ranging strategies to control the digital space. Actions have involved:

• Passing restrictive laws.
• Outlawing websites and platforms that fail to comply with local rules.
• Perfecting technology to track and influence online traffic.

Other Examples of Crackdowns

Access to the YouTube platform was slowed in the past in a case of targeted interference by officials. Russian officials attributed the issue to YouTube's owner, Google for failing to maintain its hardware in Russia.

In recent months, officials further restricted connectivity with widespread shutdowns of cellphone internet connections. The government insisted this was needed to thwart drone strikes, but experts argued a further measure to assert dominance over the internet.

Targeting Communication Apps

Regulators has also targeted popular communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were restricted in 2024. This year, authorities prohibited voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, justifying the ban by stating the two apps were being involved in crime.

Concurrently, authorities have actively promoted a dubbed "domestic" communication platform called Max. Critics see it as a possible tool for oversight. The service openly declares it will hand over data with officials upon request, and analysts note it is not equipped with end-to-end encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Analysis

Per cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework views any platform where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This designation obligates that platforms establish a presence with the regulator and grant the FSB with entry to user data. Services failing to meet these demands are in violation and may be banned.

Seleznev pointed out that possibly a large number of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, particularly after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the restrictions against the Apple service as "expected" and cautioned that other platforms that do not cooperate with Roskomnadzor "will be blocked – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Sites Too Affected

As another development, the government announced it was restricting the online game platform Roblox, stating the reason was protecting children from harmful content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular game platform in Russia in October, with approximately eight million active users.

While it is still possible to get around a few of these restrictions by utilizing VPN services, VPNs themselves are also often blocked by authorities as well.