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Amid a ongoing crackdown to tighten control over online communications, Russian authorities have cut off access to the social media app Snapchat and placed curbs on the Apple FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Ban

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor alleged that the two apps were being used to plan and execute terrorist acts on Russian soil, for recruiting individuals and commit fraud and other crimes against citizens.

The regulator reported it initiated the block targeting Snapchat on October 10, even though the decision was only reported on Thursday.

Wider Context of Online Restrictions

These latest moves come after previous limitations targeting major platforms like YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. The campaign of restrictions intensified following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, the government have pursued systematic and multi-pronged initiatives to curtail the internet. Measures have included:

• Adopting tough new laws.
• Outlawing online services that do not comply with state demands.
• Advancing technical capabilities to monitor and manipulate digital communications.

Recent Examples of Crackdowns

Service for the YouTube platform was slowed in the past in what experts called intentional slowing by the authorities. Authorities attributed the issue to Google for failing to maintain its hardware in Russia.

This summer, authorities further restricted internet access with widespread disruptions of cellular data connections. The government insisted this was required to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks, but critics contended another step to assert dominance over the digital landscape.

Targeting Messaging Apps

Authorities has also acted against popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were blocked in recently. Additionally, authorities prohibited voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the action by saying the two apps were being facilitating criminal activities.

At the same time, authorities have actively promoted a so-called "national" messenger app called Max. Observers see it as a possible tool for oversight. The app openly declares it will provide user information with officials upon request, and analysts note it lacks end-to-end encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Commentary

Per lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations views any platform where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This label obligates that such services have an account with Roskomnadzor and provide the FSB with entry to user data. Those failing to do so are in violation and face blocking.

Seleznev pointed out that possibly tens of millions of users in Russia had been using FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the blocking of the Apple service as "predictable" and cautioned that further services that do not cooperate with Roskomnadzor "are likely to be blocked – that is clear."

Entertainment Sites Too Affected

In a related move, the authorities reported it was restricting Roblox, stating the reason was protecting children from harmful content. Per data from research group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular game platform in Russia recently, with nearly eight million players.

While it remains feasible to get around a few of these limitations by using virtual private network services, VPNs themselves are frequently targeted by authorities as well.