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Amid a continued campaign to tighten control over internet access, Russian officials have blocked access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on Apple's video calling service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Restrictions

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor stated that these services were utilized to plan and execute terrorist activities on Russian soil, to enlist people and carry out fraud and other crimes targeting Russian citizens.

Officials stated it initiated the block on Snapchat in early October, though the move was only reported more recently.

Broader Context of Online Restrictions

These latest moves come after comparable limitations targeting popular services like Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. These measures of censorship escalated in the wake of the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, authorities have engaged in deliberate and multi-pronged initiatives to control the digital space. Actions have involved:

• Passing tough new laws.
• Banning websites and platforms that do not comply with Russian regulations.
• Developing technical capabilities to track and influence digital communications.

Recent Instances of Crackdowns

Service for YouTube was disrupted in the past in a case of deliberate throttling by the authorities. Authorities attributed the issue to YouTube's owner, Google for not properly maintaining its servers in Russia.

Recently, authorities further restricted internet access with widespread shutdowns of cellular data connections. Officials insisted this was necessary to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks, but analysts contended a further measure to tighten control over the internet.

Targeting Messaging Platforms

The government has also acted against popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were banned in 2024. Additionally, officials prohibited voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the action by saying the platforms were being involved in illegal activities.

Concurrently, authorities have actively promoted a so-called "national" communication platform called "Max". Experts see it as a possible tool for oversight. The service openly declares it will share user data with officials if demanded, and analysts note it is not equipped with full encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Commentary

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

This label requires that such services establish a presence with Roskomnadzor and grant state security with access to communications. Platforms that fail to meet these demands are in violation and may be banned.

Seleznev noted that perhaps many millions of Russians had been using FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on other messaging apps. He described the restrictions against the Apple service as "predictable" and warned that other platforms refusing to comply with Roskomnadzor "will be blocked – it is inevitable."

Gaming Platforms Also Targeted

In a separate development, the authorities reported it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at protecting children from illicit content. Per data from research group Mediascope, Roblox was the number two gaming site in Russia recently, with approximately eight million monthly users.

Although it is still feasible to get around a few of these limitations by employing virtual private network services, VPNs themselves are also often blocked by authorities as well.