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In a sustained crackdown to tighten control over online communications, state officials have blocked access to Snapchat and placed curbs on Apple's video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Ban

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor stated that these services were being used to facilitate and carry out acts of terrorism inside Russia, for recruiting individuals and carry out fraud along with other offenses targeting Russian citizens.

Officials reported it enforced the restriction against Snapchat in early October, though the move was publicly disclosed on Thursday.

Wider Campaign of Internet Control

These latest moves come after previous limitations targeting major platforms including YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. These measures of bans escalated after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have pursued systematic and multi-pronged strategies to rein in the digital space. Measures have included:

• Passing tough new laws.
• Outlawing websites and platforms that refuse to cooperate with local rules.
• Developing technology to track and influence digital communications.

Other Instances of Restrictions

Access to YouTube was disrupted previously in an incident described as targeted interference by the authorities. Russian officials attributed the issue to YouTube's owner, Google for allegedly neglecting its servers in Russia.

This summer, authorities further restricted internet access with extensive disruptions of cellular data connections. The government claimed this was required to counter drone strikes, but analysts saw it as a further measure to assert dominance over the internet.

Targeting Messaging Platforms

Authorities has also acted against widely-used communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were restricted in recently. This year, authorities outlawed calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, defending the ban by stating the two apps were being facilitating crime.

At the same time, authorities have actively promoted a dubbed "national" messenger app called "Max". Critics regard it as a possible surveillance tool. The service explicitly states it will share user data with officials when asked, and analysts note it lacks end-to-end encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

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

This designation mandates that platforms have an account with Roskomnadzor and provide state security with entry to user accounts. Those failing to meet these demands are breaking the law and face blocking.

Seleznev estimated that perhaps many millions of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the blocking of the Apple service as "expected" and stated that other sites that do not cooperate with authorities "face blocking – that's obvious."

Entertainment Sites Too Targeted

In a related move, the government reported it was blocking Roblox, claiming it aimed at child protection from illicit content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second most popular gaming site in Russia last month, with nearly 8 million players.

Although it remains feasible to bypass certain of these limitations by using virtual private network services, VPNs themselves are routinely blocked by the regulator as well.