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In a continued effort to exert greater control over online communications, state authorities have cut off access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on the Apple video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Block

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor claimed that these services were utilized to plan and execute terrorist activities inside Russia, for recruiting individuals and engage in fraudulent activities and other crimes targeting Russian citizens.

Officials stated it initiated the block targeting Snapchat on October 10, although the decision was only reported later.

Broader Context of Online Restrictions

These new restrictions follow similar restrictions imposed on key apps such as Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. These measures of censorship escalated following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have undertaken systematic and comprehensive efforts to curtail the open internet. Measures have included:

• Adopting tough new laws.
• Outlawing websites and platforms that fail to comply with Russian regulations.
• Developing systems to observe and control online traffic.

Other Instances of Restrictions

Access to the YouTube platform was slowed last year in an incident described as targeted interference by regulators. Russian officials pointed the finger at Google for failing to maintain its hardware in Russia.

Recently, authorities tightened internet access with widespread outages of cellular data connections. Officials insisted this was necessary to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks, but analysts argued another step to assert dominance over the digital landscape.

Action Against Communication Apps

Regulators has also targeted popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in 2024. This year, authorities banned calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the ban by stating the services were being involved in illegal activities.

Simultaneously, the state have heavily pushed a so-called "domestic" messenger app called Max. Experts see it as a potential tool for oversight. The platform admits it will share user data with officials when asked, and experts note it does not use strong encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Analysis

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

This designation requires that platforms register with the regulator and provide the FSB with entry to communications. Those failing to do so are non-compliant and may be banned.

Seleznev noted that possibly tens of millions of users in Russia had been turning to FaceTime, particularly after calls were banned on other messaging apps. He described the restrictions against the service as "predictable" and cautioned that other platforms that do not cooperate with authorities "face blocking – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Platforms Also Targeted

In a separate development, the authorities announced it was restricting the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at protecting children from inappropriate material. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the number two gaming site in Russia last month, with close to eight million active users.

While it remains possible to bypass certain of these restrictions by employing VPN services, VPNs themselves are frequently targeted by the regulator as well.