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In a sustained effort to exert greater control over internet access, Russian officials have cut off access to Snapchat and placed curbs on Apple's video calling service, FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Block

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor alleged that the two apps were being used to facilitate and carry out terrorist activities on Russian soil, to recruit perpetrators and commit fraud and other crimes against citizens.

The regulator stated it initiated the block targeting Snapchat back on the 10th of October, even though the move was only made public more recently.

Broader Campaign of Online Restrictions

These new restrictions come after similar blocks imposed on popular services like Google's YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. This wave of bans began in earnest following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, authorities have pursued calculated and comprehensive initiatives to control the open internet. Actions have involved:

• Adopting restrictive laws.
• Banning digital platforms that refuse to cooperate with local rules.
• Perfecting systems to track and influence internet traffic.

Other Examples of Restrictions

Access to YouTube was slowed previously in a case of intentional slowing by officials. Russian officials attributed the issue to Google for not properly maintaining its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, officials further restricted online access with widespread shutdowns of cellular data connections. Officials stated this was needed to prevent drone strikes, but experts argued a further measure to increase control over the internet.

Targeting Communication Apps

The government has also acted against popular communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in 2024. Additionally, authorities banned voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the measure by claiming the platforms were being involved in crime.

Simultaneously, authorities have actively promoted a so-called "national" communication platform called "Max". Observers view it as a possible monitoring instrument. The service openly declares it will share user data with authorities when asked, and experts note it does not use full encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Commentary

According to lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law classifies any service where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This designation obligates that such services register with the regulator and grant the FSB with access to user data. Those failing to meet these demands are in violation and can get blocked.

Seleznev noted that possibly tens of millions of users in Russia had been turning to FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the blocking of the service as "predictable" and warned that other sites refusing to comply with authorities "face blocking – that's obvious."

Gaming Platforms Also Targeted

In a related action, the government announced it was restricting the online game platform Roblox, citing child protection from harmful content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second-largest gaming site in Russia recently, with nearly eight million monthly users.

While it remains feasible to bypass certain of these restrictions by employing virtual private network services, VPNs themselves are also often blocked by the regulator as well.