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As part of a sustained crackdown to exert greater control over online communications, state regulators have restricted access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on Apple's video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Ban

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor alleged that both applications were employed to facilitate and carry out terrorist acts on Russian soil, for recruiting individuals and carry out fraud as well as various crimes aimed at the populace.

Roskomnadzor reported it took action against Snapchat on October 10, although the move was publicly disclosed later.

Broader Context of Digital Crackdown

These latest moves follow similar restrictions against major platforms such as Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. This wave of censorship intensified following the onset of the conflict of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have undertaken deliberate and comprehensive strategies to control the open internet. This has included:

• Passing restrictive laws.
• Outlawing online services that refuse to cooperate with Russian regulations.
• Perfecting technical capabilities to observe and control internet traffic.

Other Instances of Restrictions

Access to the YouTube platform was slowed previously in a case of deliberate throttling by regulators. Authorities attributed the issue to YouTube's owner, Google for failing to maintain its hardware in Russia.

This summer, authorities limited online access with widespread shutdowns of cellular data connections. Officials stated this was required to counter drone strikes, but experts contended a further measure to tighten control over the internet.

Action Against Communication Platforms

The government has also moved against widely-used communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were blocked in 2024. Furthermore, authorities outlawed voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the action by claiming the services were being facilitating criminal activities.

Concurrently, authorities have championed a dubbed "national" messenger app called "Max". Experts see it as a possible tool for oversight. The app openly declares it will provide user information with authorities if demanded, and analysts note it is not equipped with strong encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Commentary

According to cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations classifies any platform where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This classification obligates that platforms establish a presence with the regulator and allow the FSB with entry to communications. Platforms that fail to comply are breaking the law and can get blocked.

Seleznev noted that perhaps many millions of Russians had been turning to FaceTime, particularly after calls were banned on other messaging apps. He called the blocking of the service as "predictable" and cautioned that other sites failing to cooperate with authorities "are likely to be blocked – that is clear."

Gaming Sites Also Targeted

In a related move, the government announced it was banning Roblox, stating the reason was child protection from inappropriate material. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second-largest game platform in Russia last month, with close to eight million active users.

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