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As part of a sustained campaign to tighten control over online communications, Russian regulators have restricted access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on Apple's FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Restrictions

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor stated that both applications were employed to plan and execute terrorist acts inside Russia, to recruit perpetrators and carry out fraud and other crimes aimed at the populace.

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

Broader Context of Internet Control

These latest moves follow comparable blocks against key apps including Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. The campaign of censorship intensified after the 2022 military action of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, the government have engaged in deliberate and comprehensive strategies to rein in the internet. Actions have involved:

• Adopting tough new laws.
• Blocking online services that refuse to cooperate with state demands.
• Advancing technology to observe and control online traffic.

Other Examples of Restrictions

Service for the YouTube platform was disrupted in the past in an incident described as deliberate throttling by regulators. The Kremlin pointed the finger at Google for allegedly neglecting its infrastructure in Russia.

In recent months, officials tightened internet access with extensive shutdowns of mobile internet connections. The government insisted this was necessary to prevent drone strikes, but experts contended another step to assert dominance over the digital landscape.

Action Against Messaging Apps

Authorities has also targeted popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in 2024. Additionally, authorities outlawed voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the action by claiming the services were being used for illegal activities.

Simultaneously, authorities have actively promoted a so-called "national" communication platform called "Max". Critics see it as a potential monitoring instrument. The service admits it will provide user information with authorities upon request, and analysts note it lacks strong encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Commentary

Per lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework classifies any platform where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This classification requires that platforms register with the regulator and allow Russia's security service with the ability to monitor user accounts. Platforms that fail to do so are non-compliant and can get blocked.

Seleznev noted that possibly tens of millions of users in Russia had been relying on FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on other messaging apps. He called the blocking of the Apple service as "expected" and warned that other platforms failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "will be blocked – that's obvious."

Gaming Sites Too Targeted

As another move, the government announced it was banning the online game platform Roblox, stating the reason was safeguarding minors from illicit content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the number two game platform in Russia recently, with approximately 8 million monthly users.

Although it remains feasible to circumvent some of these restrictions by employing virtual private network services, VPNs themselves are routinely blocked by the regulator as well.