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In a continued effort to increase oversight over internet access, state officials have restricted access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Ban

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor stated that the two apps were being used to plan and execute terrorist activities on Russian soil, to recruit perpetrators and carry out fraud and other crimes targeting Russian citizens.

The regulator reported it enforced the restriction on Snapchat in early October, even though the move was only reported later.

Broader Campaign of Internet Control

This recent action follow previous blocks imposed on key apps such as YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. The campaign of censorship began in earnest following the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, authorities have engaged in deliberate and wide-ranging efforts to rein in the internet. This has included:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Blocking websites and platforms that fail to comply with local rules.
• Developing technology to track and influence online traffic.

Other Examples of Blocks

Access to YouTube was slowed previously in an incident described as targeted interference by the authorities. The Kremlin attributed the issue to Google for failing to maintain its servers in Russia.

This summer, officials limited connectivity with extensive disruptions of cellular data connections. The government claimed this was required to thwart drone strikes, but critics saw it as an additional move to increase control over the internet.

Action Against Messaging Platforms

Authorities has also acted against popular communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in recently. This year, officials outlawed voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the measure by claiming the platforms were being involved in crime.

Concurrently, authorities have actively promoted a so-called "national" messenger app called "Max". Critics see it as a possible monitoring instrument. The service openly declares it will hand over data with authorities when asked, and analysts note it lacks strong encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Commentary

According to cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law classifies any service where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This designation obligates that such services establish a presence with Roskomnadzor and allow state security with the ability to monitor communications. Services failing to comply are breaking the law and may be banned.

Seleznev pointed out that possibly tens of millions of Russians had been using FaceTime, especially after voice calls were prohibited on other messaging apps. He described the blocking of the service as "predictable" and warned that other sites failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "face blocking – it is inevitable."

Gaming Platforms Also Targeted

As another move, the authorities announced it was banning the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at child protection from harmful content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second-largest game platform in Russia last month, with nearly eight million active users.

While it remains possible to get around a few of these restrictions by utilizing virtual private network services, those are frequently targeted by the regulator as well.