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As part of a ongoing crackdown to exert greater control over online communications, state regulators have restricted access to the social media app Snapchat and placed curbs on Apple's video calling service, FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Block

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor claimed that the two apps were being used to plan and execute terrorist acts within the country, to recruit perpetrators and carry out fraud as well as various crimes targeting Russian citizens.

Officials said it enforced the restriction against Snapchat in early October, though the decision was only reported more recently.

Wider Campaign of Digital Crackdown

These latest moves are part of previous restrictions targeting key apps such as Google's YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. These measures of restrictions intensified after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have pursued deliberate and multi-pronged initiatives to control the internet. This has included:

• Enacting tough new laws.
• Outlawing online services that refuse to cooperate with Russian regulations.
• Developing technical capabilities to observe and control internet traffic.

Other Instances of Blocks

Access to YouTube was throttled last year in a case of deliberate throttling by regulators. Authorities attributed the issue to Google for allegedly neglecting its servers in Russia.

In recent months, authorities further restricted internet access with extensive disruptions of cellphone internet connections. Officials claimed this was needed to counter drone strikes, but critics saw it as another step to increase control over the digital landscape.

Targeting Messaging Apps

The government has also moved against widely-used messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were blocked in this year. Additionally, authorities prohibited voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, justifying the ban by saying the platforms were being involved in crime.

Concurrently, the state have heavily pushed a dubbed "domestic" messenger app called "Max". Observers see it as a possible tool for oversight. The app explicitly states it will hand over data with authorities if demanded, and experts note it does not use strong encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Commentary

According to lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations defines any platform where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This label requires that platforms have an account with the regulator and allow the FSB with the ability to monitor communications. Services failing to do so are breaking the law and may be banned.

Seleznev noted that potentially many millions of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the restrictions against the service as "predictable" and warned that other platforms failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "are likely to be blocked – it is inevitable."

Gaming Sites Too Targeted

As another action, the authorities reported it was blocking Roblox, claiming it aimed at child protection from illicit content. According to research group Mediascope, the platform was the number two game platform in Russia in October, with approximately 8 million active users.

While it remains possible to bypass certain of these limitations by utilizing VPN services, VPNs themselves are frequently targeted by officials as well.