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As part of a sustained effort to increase oversight over online communications, Russian regulators have cut off access to the social media app Snapchat and imposed restrictions on Apple's FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Block

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor stated that both applications were utilized to facilitate and carry out terrorist acts within the country, to enlist people and engage in fraudulent activities as well as various crimes targeting Russian citizens.

The regulator stated it initiated the block against Snapchat in early October, even though the decision was only reported later.

Broader Campaign of Digital Crackdown

These new restrictions follow comparable limitations imposed on key apps such as Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. This wave of restrictions escalated after the 2022 military action of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, authorities have engaged in systematic and wide-ranging strategies to rein in the open internet. This has included:

• Passing tough new laws.
• Outlawing digital platforms that refuse to cooperate with local rules.
• Perfecting systems to observe and control online traffic.

Recent Instances of Blocks

Service for YouTube was slowed in the past in what experts called targeted interference by regulators. Authorities blamed Google for failing to maintain its hardware in Russia.

Recently, authorities tightened connectivity with widespread shutdowns of mobile internet connections. Officials claimed this was necessary to counter drone strikes, but experts argued a further measure to increase control over the digital landscape.

Action Against Communication Platforms

Authorities has also targeted widely-used communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in recently. Furthermore, officials banned voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, defending the measure by stating the services were being facilitating criminal activities.

At the same time, the state have heavily pushed a so-called "domestic" communication platform called Max. Critics regard it as a possible surveillance tool. The app admits it will share user data with the government upon request, and experts note it is not equipped with end-to-end encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Analysis

Per cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law classifies any platform where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This designation requires that platforms establish a presence with the regulator and allow the FSB with access to user accounts. Platforms that fail to do so are breaking the law and can get blocked.

Seleznev noted that possibly tens of millions of users in Russia had been relying on FaceTime, particularly after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the blocking of the service as "predictable" and cautioned that other platforms refusing to comply with authorities "will be blocked – that's obvious."

Entertainment Sites Also Affected

In a related development, the authorities reported it was banning Roblox, claiming it aimed at child protection from inappropriate material. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the number two gaming site in Russia recently, with approximately eight million active users.

While it remains feasible to get around a few of these limitations by utilizing VPN services, VPNs themselves are also often blocked by the regulator as well.