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As part of a sustained crackdown to increase oversight over online communications, Russian officials have blocked access to the social media app Snapchat and imposed restrictions on the Apple video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Block

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor claimed that the two apps were utilized to facilitate and carry out terrorist acts within the country, for recruiting individuals and commit fraud along with other offenses against citizens.

The regulator said it took action targeting Snapchat back on the 10th of October, even though the decision was only made public later.

Broader Campaign of Internet Control

This recent action follow comparable restrictions against key apps such as YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. This wave of restrictions intensified following the onset of the conflict of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have undertaken calculated and comprehensive initiatives to rein in the internet. This has included:

• Adopting stringent legislation.
• Banning websites and platforms that refuse to cooperate with local rules.
• Perfecting technology to track and influence digital communications.

Recent Examples of Crackdowns

Service for YouTube was slowed last year in an incident described as deliberate throttling by officials. Authorities blamed Google for failing to maintain its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, authorities limited connectivity with widespread outages of mobile internet connections. Officials claimed this was needed to prevent drone strikes, but critics contended a further measure to tighten control over the internet.

Targeting Messaging Platforms

Authorities has also moved against popular messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in 2024. Furthermore, authorities outlawed calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, defending the measure by claiming the platforms were being involved in criminal activities.

Simultaneously, the state have actively promoted a so-called "domestic" communication platform called Max. Experts see it as a potential surveillance tool. The platform openly declares it will share user data with authorities upon request, and analysts note it is not equipped with end-to-end encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Analysis

As explained by lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law classifies any platform where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This designation obligates that platforms have an account with the regulator and provide state security with the ability to monitor communications. Services failing to comply are breaking the law and can get blocked.

Seleznev estimated that perhaps a large number of users in Russia had been using FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on other messaging apps. He called the blocking of the service as "predictable" and warned that further services that do not cooperate with authorities "face blocking – it is inevitable."

Gaming Sites Also Targeted

In a separate move, the authorities reported it was banning the online game platform Roblox, stating the reason was child protection from inappropriate material. Per data from research group Mediascope, the platform was the second-largest game platform in Russia last month, with close to eight million monthly users.

Although it is still possible to get around a few of these limitations by employing virtual private network services, such tools are also often blocked by officials as well.