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Amid a sustained campaign to tighten control over internet access, Russian regulators have blocked access to the social media app Snapchat and placed curbs on the Apple video calling 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 recruit perpetrators and carry out fraud and other crimes targeting Russian citizens.

The regulator stated it took action against Snapchat back on the 10th of October, although the decision was only reported later.

Broader Context of Online Restrictions

These new restrictions follow previous limitations targeting key apps including Google's YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. These measures of bans intensified in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, authorities have engaged in calculated and comprehensive strategies to curtail the open internet. Actions have involved:

• Adopting stringent legislation.
• Blocking websites and platforms that do not comply with state demands.
• Advancing systems to monitor and manipulate online traffic.

Recent Instances of Crackdowns

Service for YouTube was slowed in the past in a case of intentional slowing by regulators. The Kremlin blamed Google for allegedly neglecting its servers in Russia.

Recently, authorities further restricted connectivity with widespread shutdowns of cellular data connections. The government insisted this was needed to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks, but experts argued an additional move to assert dominance over the digital landscape.

Action Against Messaging Platforms

Regulators has also targeted widely-used messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were restricted in 2024. This year, authorities outlawed voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the action by saying the platforms were being facilitating crime.

At the same time, the state have actively promoted a dubbed "national" messenger app called "Max". Observers view it as a possible monitoring instrument. The platform explicitly states it will provide user information with the government when asked, and experts note it lacks end-to-end encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Commentary

According to cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law views any service where people can communicate as an "information dissemination organizer".

This designation obligates that platforms have an account with Roskomnadzor and allow state security with access to user accounts. Those failing to comply are non-compliant and face blocking.

Seleznev estimated that possibly tens of millions of users in Russia had been turning to FaceTime, particularly after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the restrictions against the Apple service as "predictable" and cautioned that other platforms refusing to comply with Roskomnadzor "face blocking – that's obvious."

Gaming Sites Too Affected

In a separate move, the authorities reported it was banning the online game platform Roblox, stating the reason was protecting children from harmful content. Per data from research group Mediascope, the platform was the number two game platform in Russia last month, with close to eight million monthly users.

While it remains possible to bypass certain of these blocks by using virtual private network services, VPNs themselves are also often blocked by officials as well.