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As part of a ongoing campaign to tighten control over internet access, Russian authorities have blocked access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on the Apple video calling service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Restrictions

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor alleged that the two apps were utilized to organize and conduct acts of terrorism inside Russia, to recruit perpetrators and commit fraud along with other offenses aimed at the populace.

The regulator reported it enforced the restriction on Snapchat on October 10, though the decision was publicly disclosed on Thursday.

Wider Campaign of Online Restrictions

This recent action follow comparable blocks imposed on major platforms like Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. The campaign of censorship intensified following the 2022 military action of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, the government have engaged in deliberate and comprehensive strategies to rein in the internet. Actions have involved:

• Enacting tough new laws.
• Blocking digital platforms that do not comply with state demands.
• Advancing technology to observe and control internet traffic.

Other Examples of Blocks

Access to YouTube was throttled previously in an incident described as deliberate throttling by officials. Russian officials pointed the finger at YouTube's owner, Google for not properly maintaining its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, authorities limited online access with widespread outages of cellphone internet connections. Officials stated this was required to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but analysts contended another step to increase control over the digital landscape.

Action Against Communication Platforms

The government has also acted against popular messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were restricted in 2024. Furthermore, authorities banned voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the measure by claiming the services were being used for criminal activities.

At the same time, the state have actively promoted a dubbed "domestic" communication platform called "Max". Critics regard it as a potential monitoring instrument. The platform explicitly states it will hand over data with the government upon request, and analysts note it does not use strong encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Commentary

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

This classification mandates that platforms register with the regulator and allow state security with the ability to monitor user data. Those failing to meet these demands are in violation and face blocking.

Seleznev pointed out that potentially a large number of users in Russia had been relying on FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on other messaging apps. He described the blocking of the service as "expected" and stated that further services refusing to comply with authorities "are likely to be blocked – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Sites Also Affected

In a separate development, the authorities also said it was banning the online game platform Roblox, citing protecting children from inappropriate material. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the number two game platform in Russia last month, with approximately eight million active users.

Although it remains possible to get around a few of these blocks by using VPN services, such tools are also often blocked by officials as well.