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Amid a ongoing effort to tighten control over online communications, state officials have restricted access to the social media app Snapchat and imposed restrictions on Apple's FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Ban

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor alleged that both applications were utilized to organize and conduct acts of terrorism within the country, to enlist people and commit fraud along with other offenses against citizens.

The regulator stated it took action targeting Snapchat back on the 10th of October, although the decision was only made public on Thursday.

Broader Context of Internet Control

These new restrictions are part of previous restrictions against major platforms including YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. This wave of censorship intensified in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have undertaken deliberate and wide-ranging strategies to rein in the digital space. Measures have included:

• Passing tough new laws.
• Blocking online services that do not comply with local rules.
• Advancing technology to monitor and manipulate online traffic.

Other Examples of Restrictions

Service for YouTube was disrupted previously in a case of targeted interference by regulators. The Kremlin blamed Google for not properly maintaining its servers in Russia.

In recent months, authorities further restricted connectivity with broad shutdowns of mobile internet connections. Officials insisted this was needed to prevent drone strikes, but critics saw it as a further measure to assert dominance over the internet.

Targeting Messaging Apps

Regulators has also acted against widely-used communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in this year. Additionally, authorities banned calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, defending the action by saying the platforms were being involved in illegal activities.

Simultaneously, authorities have championed a dubbed "national" messenger app called "Max". Critics regard it as a potential surveillance tool. The platform explicitly states it will hand over data with officials if demanded, and analysts note it is not equipped with strong encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Commentary

As explained by lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations views any service where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This label requires that platforms establish a presence with the regulator and provide Russia's security service with the ability to monitor communications. Those failing to meet these demands are non-compliant and face blocking.

Seleznev estimated that perhaps many millions of users in Russia had been relying on FaceTime, especially after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the blocking of the service as "predictable" and warned that other platforms refusing to comply with Roskomnadzor "are likely to be blocked – that's obvious."

Gaming Platforms Also Affected

In a related action, the authorities also said it was banning Roblox, stating the reason was safeguarding minors from harmful content. Per data from research group Mediascope, Roblox was the second-largest game platform in Russia recently, with approximately 8 million monthly users.

Although it remains feasible to circumvent some of these blocks by employing VPN services, VPNs themselves are frequently targeted by authorities as well.