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In a continued campaign to tighten control over digital platforms, Russian regulators have restricted access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on Apple's FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Ban

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor alleged that the two apps were utilized to facilitate and carry out terrorist activities within the country, to enlist people and commit fraud as well as various crimes aimed at the populace.

Officials reported it initiated the block against Snapchat on October 10, though the announcement was publicly disclosed on Thursday.

Broader Campaign of Online Restrictions

These latest moves follow previous restrictions imposed on popular services like YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. These measures of restrictions began in earnest following the onset of the conflict of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, authorities have pursued systematic and multi-pronged efforts to rein in the open internet. Measures have included:

• Adopting tough new laws.
• Banning digital platforms that fail to comply with Russian regulations.
• Perfecting systems to observe and control online traffic.

Other Examples of Blocks

Access to YouTube was throttled last year in what experts called intentional slowing by regulators. Russian officials attributed the issue to Google for allegedly neglecting its servers in Russia.

Recently, authorities tightened connectivity with extensive disruptions of cellphone internet connections. The government claimed this was required to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks, but critics argued an additional move to tighten control over the internet.

Action Against Messaging Platforms

The government has also moved against popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in 2024. Additionally, authorities outlawed calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, defending the action by saying the two apps were being used for crime.

Simultaneously, authorities have heavily pushed a so-called "domestic" messenger app called Max. Experts view it as a possible tool for oversight. The platform openly declares it will provide user information with officials if demanded, and experts note it is not equipped with strong encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

According to lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law views any service where people can communicate as an "information dissemination organizer".

This label requires that platforms establish a presence with Roskomnadzor and grant state security with the ability to monitor user data. Those failing to do so are breaking the law and can get blocked.

Seleznev noted that possibly a large number of Russians had been turning to FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on other messaging apps. He described the blocking of the service as "predictable" and cautioned that other platforms failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "are likely to be blocked – that is clear."

Gaming Sites Too Targeted

As another action, the authorities announced it was banning Roblox, citing protecting children from illicit content. According to research group Mediascope, Roblox was the second-largest gaming site in Russia in October, with approximately 8 million monthly users.

Although it is still possible to circumvent some of these limitations by utilizing VPN services, those are routinely blocked by officials as well.