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In a continued crackdown to increase oversight over digital platforms, Russian authorities have cut off access to Snapchat and placed curbs on the Apple video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Block

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor stated that the two apps were utilized to plan and execute acts of terrorism inside Russia, for recruiting individuals and engage in fraudulent activities and other crimes aimed at the populace.

The regulator said it initiated the block against Snapchat on October 10, though the announcement was only made public on Thursday.

Broader Campaign of Online Restrictions

This recent action follow previous blocks against key apps such as Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. The campaign of bans began in earnest after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, the government have engaged in systematic and wide-ranging strategies to control the digital space. This has included:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Outlawing digital platforms that fail to comply with state demands.
• Advancing systems to observe and control internet traffic.

Other Instances of Restrictions

Service for YouTube was throttled previously in an incident described as intentional slowing by officials. Authorities attributed the issue to YouTube's owner, Google for not properly maintaining its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, officials tightened internet access with broad shutdowns of cellphone internet connections. The government claimed this was required to thwart drone strikes, but critics saw it as another step to tighten control over the internet.

Action Against Communication Apps

Regulators has also targeted popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were blocked in recently. Additionally, officials outlawed voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the ban by saying the services were being used for illegal activities.

Concurrently, the state have actively promoted a so-called "national" messenger app called "Max". Experts see it as a possible monitoring instrument. The platform explicitly states it will share user data with authorities if demanded, and analysts note it is not equipped with strong encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Analysis

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

This classification requires that platforms have an account with the regulator and provide the FSB with the ability to monitor communications. Platforms that fail to meet these demands are breaking the law and face blocking.

Seleznev noted that possibly a large number of users in Russia had been using FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on other messaging apps. He described the restrictions against the Apple service as "expected" and stated that other sites failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "face blocking – that is clear."

Entertainment Sites Also Affected

As another move, the government also said it was banning the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at child protection from illicit content. According to research group Mediascope, Roblox was the second most popular game platform in Russia recently, with approximately eight million active users.

While it remains possible to get around a few of these restrictions by utilizing VPN services, VPNs themselves are routinely blocked by officials as well.