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Amid a ongoing effort to increase oversight over online communications, state authorities have restricted access to Snapchat and placed curbs on Apple's FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Ban

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor alleged that these services were employed to organize and conduct terrorist acts on Russian soil, to enlist people and engage in fraudulent activities and other crimes against citizens.

The regulator stated it initiated the block against Snapchat on October 10, even though the decision was publicly disclosed later.

Wider Context of Internet Control

This recent action follow similar limitations against key apps like Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. This wave of censorship began in earnest in the wake of the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, the government have engaged in systematic and comprehensive strategies to rein in the internet. This has included:

• Adopting stringent legislation.
• Blocking digital platforms that do not comply with local rules.
• Developing technology to observe and control online traffic.

Other Instances of Blocks

Service for YouTube was throttled last year in a case of deliberate throttling by regulators. Russian officials pointed the finger at YouTube's owner, Google for not properly maintaining its hardware in Russia.

This summer, authorities tightened online access with widespread shutdowns of cellphone internet connections. The government stated this was necessary to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but experts argued another step to increase control over the internet.

Action Against Messaging Apps

Authorities has also moved against popular communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were blocked in 2024. This year, authorities banned calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, defending the measure by claiming the two apps were being used for illegal activities.

At the same time, the state have actively promoted a so-called "national" communication platform called Max. Observers regard it as a potential tool for oversight. The platform openly declares it will provide user information with the government when asked, and analysts note it does not use end-to-end encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Commentary

As explained by cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework classifies any service where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This classification requires that platforms have an account with the regulator and allow Russia's security service with access to user data. Those failing to comply are non-compliant and can get blocked.

Seleznev estimated that possibly a large number of users in Russia had been using FaceTime, particularly after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the restrictions against the Apple service as "predictable" and stated that other sites refusing to comply with Roskomnadzor "are likely to be blocked – it is inevitable."

Gaming Platforms Too Targeted

As another development, the government reported it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, citing safeguarding minors from harmful content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular gaming site in Russia recently, with close to 8 million active users.

While it is still feasible to get around a few of these limitations by using VPN services, VPNs themselves are routinely blocked by authorities as well.