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In a continued effort to tighten control over digital platforms, state authorities have cut off access to the social media app Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Ban

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor claimed that these services were being used to plan and execute acts of terrorism inside Russia, for recruiting individuals and carry out fraud as well as various crimes aimed at the populace.

Officials said it initiated the block against Snapchat on October 10, although the announcement was publicly disclosed on Thursday.

Broader Campaign of Online Restrictions

These latest moves follow comparable restrictions targeting major platforms including YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. These measures of restrictions intensified after the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, authorities have pursued systematic and wide-ranging strategies to control the open internet. This has included:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Blocking digital platforms that do not comply with local rules.
• Advancing technical capabilities to track and influence internet traffic.

Other Instances of Blocks

Service for YouTube was slowed in the past in an incident described as intentional slowing by officials. Authorities attributed the issue to YouTube's owner, Google for failing to maintain its hardware in Russia.

In recent months, authorities limited online access with widespread shutdowns of cellphone internet connections. The government stated this was required to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but experts argued an additional move to assert dominance over the digital landscape.

Action Against Communication Apps

The government has also acted against widely-used communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were restricted in this year. Additionally, officials outlawed calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, explaining the ban by saying the platforms were being used for crime.

Concurrently, the state have actively promoted a so-called "domestic" messenger app called "Max". Observers regard it as a possible tool for oversight. The app explicitly states it will provide user information with the government upon request, and experts note it is not equipped with strong encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Commentary

Per lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law defines any platform where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This designation obligates that such services establish a presence with the regulator and provide the FSB with the ability to monitor communications. Those failing to do so are breaking the law and can get blocked.

Seleznev estimated that possibly a large number of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the restrictions against the Apple service as "predictable" and warned that other platforms failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "face blocking – it is inevitable."

Gaming Platforms Too Targeted

In a separate action, the authorities announced it was restricting Roblox, claiming it aimed at safeguarding minors from inappropriate material. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second-largest gaming site in Russia in October, with close to 8 million players.

While it remains feasible to get around a few of these blocks by utilizing virtual private network services, those are routinely blocked by the regulator as well.