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As part of a sustained campaign to tighten control over internet access, Russian officials have blocked access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple video calling service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Block

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor stated that the two apps were employed to facilitate and carry out terrorist activities on Russian soil, to recruit perpetrators and engage in fraudulent activities and other crimes targeting Russian citizens.

Roskomnadzor reported it took action against Snapchat back on the 10th of October, although the move was only made public later.

Broader Context of Internet Control

These latest moves are part of previous blocks imposed on major platforms like Google's YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. The campaign of censorship intensified in the wake of the onset of the conflict of Ukraine by Russia.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have pursued deliberate and multi-pronged initiatives to rein in the open internet. Actions have involved:

• Passing stringent legislation.
• Blocking digital platforms that do not comply with Russian regulations.
• Perfecting systems to observe and control online traffic.

Recent Instances of Crackdowns

Access to YouTube was slowed last year in a case of intentional slowing by officials. The Kremlin blamed YouTube's owner, Google for failing to maintain its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, officials tightened online access with broad disruptions of mobile internet connections. The government insisted this was needed to thwart Ukrainian drone attacks, but analysts contended an additional move to increase control over the internet.

Targeting Communication Platforms

The government has also targeted widely-used communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in 2024. Additionally, authorities prohibited voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, defending the action by claiming the services were being used for criminal activities.

Simultaneously, the state have actively promoted a dubbed "domestic" messenger app called "Max". Critics regard it as a possible monitoring instrument. The app openly declares it will share user data with the government upon request, and analysts note it is not equipped with strong encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Commentary

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

This designation mandates that platforms register with the regulator and allow state security with the ability to monitor user data. Services failing to meet these demands are breaking the law and may be banned.

Seleznev noted that possibly tens of millions of users in Russia had been using FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on other messaging apps. He described the restrictions against the Apple service as "predictable" and warned that further services that do not cooperate with authorities "will be blocked – that is clear."

Gaming Platforms Also Affected

In a separate development, the authorities also said it was restricting the online game platform Roblox, stating the reason was child protection from harmful content. According to research group Mediascope, the platform was the second-largest gaming site in Russia last month, with close to 8 million monthly users.

While it is still feasible to bypass certain of these limitations by using VPN services, VPNs themselves are also often blocked by the regulator as well.