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As part of a continued effort to increase oversight over online communications, state officials have restricted access to Snapchat and placed curbs on the Apple video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Ban

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor alleged that the two apps were employed to plan and execute acts of terrorism within the country, to enlist people and engage in fraudulent activities along with other offenses against citizens.

Officials said it initiated the block on Snapchat in early October, even though the move was only reported on Thursday.

Wider Context of Online Restrictions

This recent action come after similar restrictions targeting popular services such as YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. These measures of restrictions escalated following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, authorities have pursued calculated and comprehensive efforts to rein in the digital space. Actions have involved:

• Passing stringent legislation.
• Outlawing digital platforms that do not comply with state demands.
• Perfecting technical capabilities to monitor and manipulate internet traffic.

Recent Instances of Restrictions

Access to YouTube was throttled previously in an incident described as targeted interference by regulators. The Kremlin attributed the issue to Google for allegedly neglecting its hardware in Russia.

Recently, authorities limited connectivity with broad shutdowns of cellular data connections. The government insisted this was necessary to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but analysts argued an additional move to tighten control over the internet.

Action Against Messaging Apps

Authorities has also targeted popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in this year. Additionally, officials outlawed calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the action by claiming the two apps were being facilitating crime.

Simultaneously, authorities have championed a so-called "domestic" communication platform called Max. Observers see it as a potential tool for oversight. The platform explicitly states it will hand over data with officials upon request, and analysts note it lacks strong encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Commentary

Per cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations views any service where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This label obligates that platforms register with Roskomnadzor and provide Russia's security service with access to user data. Services failing to comply are breaking the law and face blocking.

Seleznev estimated that potentially a large number of Russians had been using FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on other messaging apps. He described the blocking of the Apple service as "predictable" and stated that further services refusing to comply with authorities "are likely to be blocked – it is inevitable."

Gaming Platforms Too Affected

In a related move, the government announced it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, citing protecting children from illicit content. According to research group Mediascope, Roblox was the second-largest game platform in Russia last month, with close to 8 million active users.

While it is still feasible to get around a few of these restrictions by using VPN services, such tools are routinely blocked by the regulator as well.