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In a continued effort to exert greater control over internet access, Russian authorities have restricted access to the social media app Snapchat and placed curbs on Apple's FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Ban

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor claimed that these services were utilized to facilitate and carry out acts of terrorism inside Russia, for recruiting individuals and commit fraud and other crimes aimed at the populace.

Roskomnadzor reported it took action against Snapchat on October 10, though the decision was publicly disclosed more recently.

Broader Campaign of Online Restrictions

These new restrictions are part of previous restrictions against popular services like YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. The campaign of censorship escalated in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have pursued deliberate and multi-pronged initiatives to rein in the digital space. This has included:

• Adopting restrictive laws.
• Banning websites and platforms that refuse to cooperate with state demands.
• Perfecting technology to observe and control internet traffic.

Other Instances of Restrictions

Service for the YouTube platform was slowed last year in an incident described as targeted interference by the authorities. Authorities attributed the issue to Google for not properly maintaining its servers in Russia.

This summer, authorities limited online access with extensive shutdowns of mobile internet connections. Officials insisted this was required to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks, but analysts argued another step to increase control over the internet.

Action Against Messaging Apps

The government has also moved against widely-used messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in recently. Furthermore, officials outlawed calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, justifying the ban by claiming the services were being used for illegal activities.

At the same time, the state have heavily pushed a so-called "domestic" communication platform called "Max". Observers see it as a possible tool for oversight. The app openly declares it will hand over data with officials when asked, and experts note it is not equipped with end-to-end encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

Per lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework classifies any platform where people can communicate as an "information dissemination organizer".

This designation mandates that platforms have an account with the regulator and grant the FSB with access to user accounts. Those failing to comply are in violation and can get blocked.

Seleznev noted that possibly tens of millions of users in Russia had been turning to FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the restrictions against the Apple service as "predictable" and stated that other sites failing to cooperate with authorities "will be blocked – that is clear."

Entertainment Platforms Too Targeted

In a separate action, the government also said it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, citing child protection from illicit content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second-largest game platform in Russia last month, with approximately 8 million active users.

While it is still feasible to bypass certain of these limitations by utilizing virtual private network services, VPNs themselves are also often blocked by officials as well.