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In a sustained campaign to tighten control over internet access, Russian officials have blocked access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on Apple's video calling service, FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Ban

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor stated that the two apps were utilized to facilitate and carry out terrorist activities on Russian soil, to enlist people and engage in fraudulent activities as well as various crimes aimed at the populace.

The regulator reported it took action targeting Snapchat on October 10, even though the move was publicly disclosed later.

Wider Context of Digital Crackdown

This recent action follow previous blocks targeting major platforms such as Google's YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. These measures of bans escalated after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, authorities have pursued calculated and multi-pronged strategies to rein in the digital space. Measures have included:

• Passing stringent legislation.
• Banning digital platforms that refuse to cooperate with Russian regulations.
• Perfecting technology to observe and control digital communications.

Other Examples of Restrictions

Access to the YouTube platform was throttled last year in a case of targeted interference by regulators. Russian officials pointed the finger at Google for not properly maintaining its servers in Russia.

This summer, officials tightened connectivity with widespread disruptions of cellphone internet connections. The government stated this was necessary to counter drone strikes, but analysts argued a further measure to assert dominance over the internet.

Action Against Messaging Platforms

The government has also acted against widely-used communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were blocked in this year. Additionally, officials prohibited calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the measure by stating the two apps were being involved in criminal activities.

At the same time, authorities have championed a so-called "national" communication platform called "Max". Critics see it as a potential monitoring instrument. The platform explicitly states it will hand over data with officials when asked, and experts note it does not use strong encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Analysis

As explained by lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law defines any platform where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This classification obligates that platforms have an account with the regulator and provide the FSB with entry to communications. Services failing to do so are in violation and face blocking.

Seleznev estimated that possibly many millions of Russians had been using FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the blocking of the Apple service as "predictable" and warned that further services failing to cooperate with authorities "face blocking – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Sites Too Affected

In a separate move, the government announced it was blocking Roblox, citing safeguarding minors from harmful content. Per data from research group Mediascope, the platform was the second-largest gaming site in Russia last month, with approximately 8 million active users.

While it remains possible to circumvent some of these restrictions by utilizing virtual private network services, VPNs themselves are frequently targeted by authorities as well.