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Amid a ongoing crackdown to exert greater control over digital platforms, state regulators have restricted access to the social media app Snapchat and placed curbs on the Apple FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Ban

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor alleged that the two apps were utilized to plan and execute terrorist activities within the country, to enlist people and carry out fraud and other crimes against citizens.

Officials stated it initiated the block on Snapchat back on the 10th of October, although the move was only made public later.

Wider Context of Digital Crackdown

These latest moves are part of comparable restrictions imposed on key apps like YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. These measures of restrictions escalated following the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, the government have pursued calculated and comprehensive efforts to curtail the open internet. Actions have involved:

• Enacting stringent legislation.
• Blocking websites and platforms that fail to comply with local rules.
• Perfecting technology to track and influence digital communications.

Other Examples of Restrictions

Service for the YouTube platform was throttled in the past in what experts called intentional slowing by regulators. Russian officials blamed Google for failing to maintain its hardware in Russia.

In recent months, officials further restricted connectivity with broad disruptions of cellular data connections. Officials stated this was necessary to thwart Ukrainian drone attacks, but analysts argued a further measure to tighten control over the digital landscape.

Action Against Messaging Apps

Authorities has also moved against widely-used messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were blocked in 2024. Additionally, authorities prohibited voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the action by saying the services were being facilitating illegal activities.

Simultaneously, the state have championed a so-called "domestic" communication platform called "Max". Observers view it as a potential tool for oversight. The platform admits it will hand over data with officials when asked, and analysts note it does not use end-to-end encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Analysis

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

This designation mandates that platforms have an account with the regulator and allow the FSB with entry to user accounts. Platforms that fail to comply are breaking the law and may be banned.

Seleznev estimated that possibly many millions of Russians had been turning to FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on other messaging apps. He called the blocking of the Apple service as "expected" and stated that other platforms failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "face blocking – that's obvious."

Entertainment Platforms Too Targeted

As another development, the authorities also said it was banning the online game platform Roblox, citing child protection from illicit content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second-largest game platform in Russia recently, with close to eight million monthly users.

Although it is still feasible to bypass certain of these blocks by utilizing VPN services, VPNs themselves are also often blocked by officials as well.