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As part of a continued crackdown to increase oversight over internet access, state officials have cut off access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Block

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor alleged that both applications were utilized to plan and execute terrorist activities within the country, to recruit perpetrators and commit fraud and other crimes aimed at the populace.

Officials said it initiated the block against Snapchat back on the 10th of October, although the decision was publicly disclosed more recently.

Wider Context of Online Restrictions

This recent action come after similar restrictions targeting major platforms including YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. These measures of restrictions intensified following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, the government have engaged in deliberate and wide-ranging efforts to control the digital space. Actions have involved:

• Adopting restrictive laws.
• Blocking online services that refuse to cooperate with Russian regulations.
• Developing technology to observe and control online traffic.

Recent Examples of Blocks

Access to YouTube was throttled in the past in an incident described as targeted interference by the authorities. Russian officials blamed Google for failing to maintain its infrastructure in Russia.

In recent months, officials tightened internet access with extensive disruptions of cellular data connections. The government insisted this was needed to counter drone strikes, but experts argued an additional move to tighten control over the internet.

Action Against Communication Apps

Authorities has also acted against popular communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in recently. Additionally, officials banned calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, defending the ban by stating the services were being facilitating illegal activities.

Concurrently, authorities have actively promoted a dubbed "domestic" communication platform called Max. Critics see it as a potential tool for oversight. The platform admits it will provide user information with the government when asked, and experts note it is not equipped with full encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Commentary

Per cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law defines any platform where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This designation requires that such services register with Roskomnadzor and allow Russia's security service with entry to user data. Services failing to meet these demands are non-compliant and may be banned.

Seleznev noted that perhaps a large number of Russians had been using FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the restrictions against the Apple service as "expected" and cautioned that other sites refusing to comply with authorities "are likely to be blocked – that is clear."

Entertainment Sites Too Targeted

As another development, the government reported it was banning Roblox, claiming it aimed at safeguarding minors from illicit content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the number two game platform in Russia recently, with approximately eight million players.

While it is still feasible to get around a few of these limitations by utilizing virtual private network services, those are frequently targeted by officials as well.