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Amid a sustained effort to tighten control over internet access, Russian regulators have restricted access to Snapchat and placed curbs on the Apple video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Restrictions

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor claimed that the two apps were utilized to facilitate and carry out terrorist acts within the country, for recruiting individuals and commit fraud and other crimes aimed at the populace.

Roskomnadzor stated it initiated the block targeting Snapchat back on the 10th of October, although the move was publicly disclosed later.

Broader Context of Digital Crackdown

These new restrictions come after similar limitations targeting key apps such as Google's YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. This wave of censorship began in earnest in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have undertaken calculated and wide-ranging initiatives to control the internet. Measures have included:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Blocking websites and platforms that refuse to cooperate with state demands.
• Advancing technical capabilities to observe and control internet traffic.

Recent Instances of Blocks

Access to the YouTube platform was disrupted previously in what experts called deliberate throttling by the authorities. The Kremlin attributed the issue to YouTube's owner, Google for failing to maintain its hardware in Russia.

In recent months, officials further restricted connectivity with extensive disruptions of cellular data connections. The government insisted this was needed to thwart Ukrainian drone attacks, but experts argued a further measure to increase control over the digital landscape.

Targeting Communication Apps

Regulators has also targeted popular messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in 2024. This year, authorities prohibited voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, defending the measure by stating the services were being used for illegal activities.

Simultaneously, authorities have actively promoted a so-called "domestic" messenger app called "Max". Experts see it as a possible monitoring instrument. The platform explicitly states it will provide user information with officials if demanded, and analysts note it does not use end-to-end encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Analysis

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

This classification obligates that such services have an account with Roskomnadzor and grant the FSB with the ability to monitor user accounts. Platforms that fail to meet these demands are breaking the law and may be banned.

Seleznev estimated that perhaps many millions of users in Russia had been turning to FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on other messaging apps. He called the restrictions against the service as "expected" and cautioned that other platforms failing to cooperate with authorities "will be blocked – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Platforms Also Targeted

In a related move, the authorities announced it was blocking Roblox, stating the reason was safeguarding minors from illicit content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the number two game platform in Russia last month, with close to eight million active users.

While it is still feasible to bypass certain of these blocks by utilizing VPN services, such tools are also often blocked by authorities as well.