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In a sustained campaign to tighten control over digital platforms, Russian regulators have cut off access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Restrictions

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor stated that these services were being used to organize and conduct terrorist acts on Russian soil, to enlist people and commit fraud along with other offenses against citizens.

Roskomnadzor said it enforced the restriction on Snapchat back on the 10th of October, even though the move was only reported more recently.

Broader Context of Digital Crackdown

This recent action follow similar limitations targeting key apps including YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. The campaign of censorship intensified following the 2022 military action of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, authorities have undertaken calculated and wide-ranging initiatives to curtail the internet. Actions have involved:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Banning websites and platforms that fail to comply with local rules.
• Perfecting technical capabilities to track and influence internet traffic.

Other Instances of Crackdowns

Service for the YouTube platform was slowed last year in an incident described as targeted interference by officials. The Kremlin pointed the finger at YouTube's owner, Google for allegedly neglecting its servers in Russia.

This summer, authorities limited online access with broad disruptions of cellular data connections. Officials stated this was required to counter drone strikes, but experts contended an additional move to increase control over the internet.

Action Against Messaging Platforms

The government has also moved against widely-used messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were banned in 2024. Furthermore, authorities prohibited calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, defending the action by stating the platforms were being used for criminal activities.

Concurrently, authorities have heavily pushed a dubbed "domestic" messenger app called "Max". Experts regard it as a potential surveillance tool. The platform openly declares it will provide user information with the government upon request, and experts note it does not use full encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Analysis

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

This label mandates that such services have an account with the regulator and provide Russia's security service with entry to user accounts. Those failing to meet these demands are in violation and face blocking.

Seleznev estimated that potentially many millions of Russians had been turning to FaceTime, particularly after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the blocking of the Apple service as "predictable" and cautioned that other platforms that do not cooperate with Roskomnadzor "are likely to be blocked – that is clear."

Entertainment Platforms Too Affected

As another development, the government reported it was banning Roblox, stating the reason was safeguarding minors from harmful content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the number two game platform in Russia in October, with approximately 8 million active users.

While it remains feasible to get around a few of these restrictions by employing virtual private network services, VPNs themselves are routinely blocked by authorities as well.