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As part of a continued effort to increase oversight over internet access, Russian officials have restricted access to the social media app Snapchat and imposed restrictions on the Apple video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Ban

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor claimed that the two apps were being used to organize and conduct terrorist activities within the country, to enlist people and commit fraud along with other offenses against citizens.

The regulator said it enforced the restriction against Snapchat in early October, although the move was only reported more recently.

Broader Context of Internet Control

These new restrictions come after similar restrictions targeting key apps like Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. The campaign of restrictions escalated in the wake of the onset of the conflict of Ukraine.

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

• Enacting tough new laws.
• Outlawing digital platforms that do not comply with state demands.
• Perfecting technical capabilities to observe and control digital communications.

Other Instances of Crackdowns

Service for the YouTube platform was throttled previously in what experts called deliberate throttling by the authorities. Russian officials pointed the finger at Google for not properly maintaining its infrastructure in Russia.

In recent months, authorities limited internet access with extensive shutdowns of cellular data connections. Officials stated this was required to counter drone strikes, but critics contended an additional move to increase control over the internet.

Action Against Communication Platforms

Authorities has also acted against popular communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were blocked in 2024. This year, authorities prohibited voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, defending the ban by stating the platforms were being involved in crime.

Simultaneously, authorities have actively promoted a dubbed "national" communication platform called "Max". Observers view it as a potential monitoring instrument. The service explicitly states it will hand over data with the government if demanded, and analysts note it is not equipped with strong encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

As explained by lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations defines any service where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This designation obligates that such services have an account with Roskomnadzor and provide state security with the ability to monitor user data. Those failing to do so are non-compliant and may be banned.

Seleznev pointed out that potentially many millions of Russians had been turning to FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the blocking of the service as "predictable" and stated that further services refusing to comply with Roskomnadzor "face blocking – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Sites Also Affected

In a separate development, the authorities announced it was restricting Roblox, stating the reason was protecting children from inappropriate material. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the number two gaming site in Russia recently, with close to eight million players.

While it is still feasible to circumvent some of these blocks by employing VPN services, such tools are also often blocked by authorities as well.