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Amid a continued campaign to increase oversight over digital platforms, state officials have restricted access to the social media app Snapchat and placed curbs on Apple's FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Restrictions

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor alleged that these services were employed to plan and execute terrorist acts within the country, to recruit perpetrators and carry out fraud and other crimes aimed at the populace.

Officials reported it enforced the restriction against Snapchat on October 10, even though the decision was publicly disclosed on Thursday.

Wider Campaign of Internet Control

These new restrictions come after comparable limitations targeting popular services like YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. This wave of bans intensified following the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, authorities have undertaken calculated and comprehensive initiatives to rein in the internet. Measures have included:

• Adopting tough new laws.
• Banning digital platforms that do not comply with Russian regulations.
• Perfecting technical capabilities to monitor and manipulate digital communications.

Recent Instances of Crackdowns

Access to the YouTube platform was disrupted in the past in a case of targeted interference by regulators. The Kremlin blamed Google for failing to maintain its hardware in Russia.

This summer, authorities tightened connectivity with widespread disruptions of cellular data connections. Officials claimed this was needed to thwart Ukrainian drone attacks, but analysts argued an additional move to increase control over the digital landscape.

Targeting Communication Platforms

Regulators has also moved against popular communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in 2024. Additionally, authorities banned voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, defending the ban by claiming the two apps were being used for criminal activities.

Simultaneously, the state have actively promoted a so-called "domestic" messenger app called Max. Experts see it as a possible tool for oversight. The platform openly declares it will share user data with officials when asked, and experts note it does not use full encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Commentary

Per cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework classifies any service where people can communicate as an "information dissemination organizer".

This classification obligates that platforms have an account with the regulator and provide the FSB with the ability to monitor user accounts. Platforms that fail to do so are breaking the law and face blocking.

Seleznev pointed out that potentially many millions of users in Russia had been relying on FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on other messaging apps. He called the blocking of the service as "predictable" and stated that other platforms refusing to comply with Roskomnadzor "face blocking – that's obvious."

Entertainment Sites Too Affected

In a related action, the government announced it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at safeguarding minors from illicit content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the number two game platform in Russia in October, with close to eight million players.

While it is still possible to circumvent some of these blocks by using VPN services, such tools are routinely blocked by authorities as well.