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Amid a sustained campaign to tighten control over online communications, state officials have blocked access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Restrictions

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor claimed that both applications were employed to organize and conduct acts of terrorism within the country, to recruit perpetrators and carry out fraud as well as various crimes targeting Russian citizens.

The regulator stated it enforced the restriction on Snapchat in early October, even though the decision was only made public later.

Wider Campaign of Internet Control

These new restrictions are part of similar limitations against popular services like YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. The campaign of restrictions intensified after the onset of the conflict of Ukraine by Russia.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, authorities have undertaken calculated and wide-ranging initiatives to rein in the internet. Measures have included:

• Passing restrictive laws.
• Blocking digital platforms that do not comply with state demands.
• Perfecting technology to track and influence digital communications.

Recent Instances of Crackdowns

Access to the YouTube platform was disrupted last year in an incident described as intentional slowing by regulators. Russian officials pointed the finger at YouTube's owner, Google for not properly maintaining its hardware in Russia.

This summer, officials tightened connectivity with extensive disruptions of cellular data connections. Officials stated this was necessary to prevent drone strikes, but experts contended an additional move to increase control over the digital landscape.

Action Against Messaging Platforms

The government has also moved against popular messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were blocked in 2024. Furthermore, officials banned calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the action by saying the two apps were being facilitating crime.

Simultaneously, authorities have championed a so-called "domestic" messenger app called "Max". Critics regard it as a possible tool for oversight. The platform explicitly states it will hand over data with the government when asked, and analysts note it lacks end-to-end encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Analysis

As explained by lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law classifies any service where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This designation requires that platforms have an account with the regulator and allow state security with the ability to monitor communications. Services failing to do so are in violation and may be banned.

Seleznev noted that perhaps many millions of users in Russia had been using FaceTime, particularly after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the blocking of the service as "predictable" and cautioned that other platforms refusing to comply with Roskomnadzor "are likely to be blocked – that's obvious."

Entertainment Sites Also Affected

As another action, the government announced it was restricting Roblox, stating the reason was protecting children from illicit content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second-largest gaming site in Russia in October, with approximately 8 million active users.

While it is still possible to circumvent some of these blocks by using virtual private network services, such tools are routinely blocked by officials as well.