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As part of a ongoing crackdown to exert greater control over online communications, state officials have cut off access to the social media app Snapchat and imposed restrictions on the Apple FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Restrictions

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor claimed that both applications were utilized to plan and execute acts of terrorism on Russian soil, to enlist people and engage in fraudulent activities along with other offenses targeting Russian citizens.

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

Broader Campaign of Online Restrictions

This recent action come after comparable blocks targeting popular services including YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. These measures of bans intensified following the onset of the conflict of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have engaged in deliberate and multi-pronged initiatives to curtail the digital space. Measures have included:

• Adopting tough new laws.
• Blocking online services that fail to comply with Russian regulations.
• Developing technology to observe and control internet traffic.

Other Examples of Blocks

Service for the YouTube platform was slowed last year in a case of intentional slowing by the authorities. Authorities pointed the finger at Google for failing to maintain its servers in Russia.

Recently, officials limited online access with broad outages of mobile internet connections. The government insisted this was needed to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but analysts contended an additional move to assert dominance over the digital landscape.

Action Against Communication Platforms

Regulators has also targeted widely-used messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were restricted in this year. Furthermore, authorities banned calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, explaining the ban by stating the services were being involved in illegal activities.

Simultaneously, authorities have championed a so-called "domestic" communication platform called Max. Critics see it as a possible surveillance tool. The platform explicitly states it will share user data with authorities upon request, and analysts note it is not equipped with strong encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Commentary

According to lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework classifies any service where people can communicate as an "information dissemination organizer".

This designation requires that such services register with the regulator and provide Russia's security service with access to user accounts. Those failing to meet these demands are in violation and may be banned.

Seleznev noted that perhaps many millions of users in Russia had been relying on FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on other messaging apps. He described the restrictions against the Apple service as "expected" and stated that other sites refusing to comply with authorities "are likely to be blocked – that is clear."

Entertainment Platforms Too Affected

In a related move, the government announced it was restricting the online game platform Roblox, citing safeguarding minors from inappropriate material. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the number two game platform in Russia in October, with approximately 8 million players.

Although it remains feasible to circumvent some of these limitations by employing VPN services, such tools are also often blocked by the regulator as well.