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In a ongoing effort to exert greater control over online communications, Russian regulators have cut off access to Snapchat and placed curbs on Apple's FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Ban

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor alleged that the two apps were being used to facilitate and carry out terrorist activities inside Russia, to enlist people and engage in fraudulent activities and other crimes against citizens.

The regulator stated it enforced the restriction targeting Snapchat back on the 10th of October, although the announcement was publicly disclosed more recently.

Wider Context of Online Restrictions

This recent action are part of previous blocks against major platforms like Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. This wave of bans intensified in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, the government have undertaken systematic and comprehensive strategies to curtail the digital space. This has included:

• Enacting stringent legislation.
• Outlawing digital platforms that refuse to cooperate with state demands.
• Perfecting technical capabilities to monitor and manipulate internet traffic.

Other Instances of Blocks

Access to the YouTube platform was disrupted previously in what experts called intentional slowing by the authorities. Authorities attributed the issue to Google for allegedly neglecting its infrastructure in Russia.

This summer, officials tightened internet access with extensive shutdowns of mobile internet connections. The government insisted this was required to thwart drone strikes, but analysts argued another step to tighten control over the digital landscape.

Targeting Messaging Platforms

The government has also moved against widely-used messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in recently. This year, authorities prohibited calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the measure by saying the services were being used for illegal activities.

At the same time, authorities have actively promoted a so-called "national" communication platform called Max. Observers regard it as a possible tool for oversight. The service explicitly states it will hand over data with the government upon request, and analysts note it is not equipped with end-to-end encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Commentary

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

This classification requires that such services establish a presence with the regulator and allow Russia's security service with the ability to monitor user data. Platforms that fail to do so are in violation and may be banned.

Seleznev estimated that potentially many millions of Russians had been using FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on other messaging apps. He called the blocking of the Apple service as "predictable" and stated that other sites failing to cooperate with authorities "face blocking – that is clear."

Gaming Platforms Also Affected

In a related action, the authorities reported it was banning Roblox, claiming it aimed at protecting children from inappropriate material. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the number two game platform in Russia last month, with approximately eight million active users.

While it remains feasible to circumvent some of these blocks by using VPN services, VPNs themselves are also often blocked by authorities as well.