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In a continued crackdown to tighten control over internet access, state officials have restricted access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple video calling service, FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Block

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor claimed that both applications were utilized to plan and execute acts of terrorism inside Russia, to enlist people and commit fraud along with other offenses against citizens.

Roskomnadzor said it enforced the restriction targeting Snapchat back on the 10th of October, even though the move was only reported more recently.

Wider Context of Digital Crackdown

These latest moves come after similar restrictions targeting popular services such as YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. This wave of restrictions intensified after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, authorities have engaged in deliberate and comprehensive initiatives to rein in the digital space. Actions have involved:

• Adopting restrictive laws.
• Outlawing online services that do not comply with Russian regulations.
• Perfecting technology to track and influence online traffic.

Recent Instances of Blocks

Access to the YouTube platform was throttled in the past in an incident described as deliberate throttling by officials. Russian officials attributed the issue to YouTube's owner, Google for not properly maintaining its servers in Russia.

In recent months, officials limited internet access with extensive outages of cellphone internet connections. Officials insisted this was needed to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks, but critics argued an additional move to tighten control over the digital landscape.

Action Against Messaging Apps

The government has also moved against popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in 2024. This year, officials prohibited voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the measure by saying the services were being used for crime.

Simultaneously, authorities have championed a so-called "national" messenger app called "Max". Experts regard it as a potential monitoring instrument. The app explicitly states it will provide user information with the government if demanded, and analysts note it lacks end-to-end encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Analysis

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 the regulator and grant the FSB with entry to user data. Services failing to meet these demands are in violation and may be banned.

Seleznev estimated that possibly many millions of Russians had been using FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the restrictions against the service as "expected" and stated that other platforms refusing to comply with Roskomnadzor "face blocking – it is inevitable."

Gaming Sites Also Affected

In a related move, the authorities announced it was banning Roblox, citing child protection from harmful content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second-largest gaming site in Russia in October, with approximately 8 million active users.

While it is still feasible to get around a few of these blocks by using VPN services, those are also often blocked by the regulator as well.