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In a sustained crackdown to increase oversight over online communications, state regulators have restricted access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on Apple's video calling service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Ban

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor claimed that both applications were utilized to facilitate and carry out terrorist acts inside Russia, to enlist people and commit fraud and other crimes against citizens.

The regulator said it enforced the restriction against Snapchat in early October, even though the move was only made public later.

Broader Context of Internet Control

These latest moves follow similar restrictions imposed on popular services like Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. The campaign of censorship began in earnest following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, the government have undertaken systematic and comprehensive strategies to rein in the digital space. Actions have involved:

• Passing tough new laws.
• Banning websites and platforms that fail to comply with state demands.
• Advancing systems to observe and control online traffic.

Recent Examples of Crackdowns

Access to the YouTube platform was disrupted previously in an incident described as deliberate throttling by the authorities. The Kremlin attributed the issue to YouTube's owner, Google for failing to maintain its hardware in Russia.

This summer, authorities tightened connectivity with widespread disruptions of mobile internet connections. Officials insisted this was necessary to prevent drone strikes, but analysts contended a further measure to assert dominance over the internet.

Targeting Messaging Apps

Authorities has also acted against widely-used messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were blocked in recently. Additionally, officials banned voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, explaining the ban by claiming the platforms were being involved in criminal activities.

At the same time, the state have actively promoted a so-called "domestic" messenger app called "Max". Experts see it as a possible surveillance tool. The service explicitly states it will share user data with officials if demanded, and experts note it lacks end-to-end encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Analysis

According to cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations defines any service where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This label obligates that platforms have an account with Roskomnadzor and allow the FSB with the ability to monitor communications. Those failing to comply are in violation and face blocking.

Seleznev noted that possibly tens of millions of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on other messaging apps. He described the blocking of the Apple service as "predictable" and warned that other sites that do not cooperate with Roskomnadzor "will be blocked – that's obvious."

Entertainment Sites Also Targeted

In a related action, the government announced it was restricting the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at protecting children from inappropriate material. According to research group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular game platform in Russia last month, with nearly 8 million active users.

While it remains feasible to bypass certain of these blocks by using VPN services, those are routinely blocked by officials as well.