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Amid a ongoing crackdown to tighten control over internet access, Russian authorities have blocked access to the social media app Snapchat and placed curbs on Apple's video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Restrictions

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor alleged that the two apps were employed to organize and conduct terrorist activities inside Russia, to enlist people and carry out fraud as well as various crimes targeting Russian citizens.

The regulator stated it took action targeting Snapchat on October 10, though the announcement was only made public later.

Wider Campaign of Internet Control

These new restrictions follow similar limitations imposed on popular services like YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. This wave of censorship began in earnest after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, authorities have undertaken deliberate and multi-pronged efforts to curtail the digital space. Actions have involved:

• Passing stringent legislation.
• Outlawing online services that fail to comply with Russian regulations.
• Perfecting technology to track and influence online traffic.

Other Instances of Restrictions

Access to YouTube was slowed in the past in a case of deliberate throttling by officials. Authorities blamed Google for failing to maintain its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, officials further restricted online access with extensive disruptions of cellphone internet connections. The government insisted this was required to thwart drone strikes, but analysts saw it as a further measure to increase control over the internet.

Targeting Communication Apps

Regulators has also acted against widely-used communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in 2024. Furthermore, authorities banned calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, defending the action by claiming the platforms were being involved in illegal activities.

At the same time, authorities have actively promoted a dubbed "domestic" messenger app called "Max". Experts regard it as a potential monitoring instrument. The platform openly declares it will share user data with the government when asked, and analysts note it is not equipped with full encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Commentary

As explained by cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law defines any service where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This classification mandates that such services have an account with Roskomnadzor and grant state security with the ability to monitor user data. Those failing to do so are non-compliant and face blocking.

Seleznev noted that potentially tens of millions of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the restrictions against the service as "expected" and warned that other sites refusing to comply with authorities "will be blocked – that is clear."

Entertainment Platforms Too Targeted

As another move, the government announced it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at protecting children from harmful content. According to research group Mediascope, Roblox was the second most popular game platform in Russia recently, with close to eight million monthly users.

While it is still possible to circumvent some of these limitations by utilizing VPN services, VPNs themselves are frequently targeted by authorities as well.