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In a sustained effort to increase oversight over internet access, state officials have restricted access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on Apple's video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Block

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor alleged that both applications were being used to organize and conduct acts of terrorism on Russian soil, for recruiting individuals and carry out fraud along with other offenses aimed at the populace.

Roskomnadzor said it initiated the block on Snapchat back on the 10th of October, though the move was only reported later.

Wider Context of Online Restrictions

This recent action are part of comparable restrictions targeting popular services such as YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. These measures of restrictions began in earnest after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, authorities have pursued calculated and multi-pronged initiatives to rein in the open internet. This has included:

• Passing stringent legislation.
• Blocking online services that fail to comply with Russian regulations.
• Developing systems to observe and control digital communications.

Recent Examples of Crackdowns

Service for the YouTube platform was disrupted previously in a case of deliberate throttling by regulators. The Kremlin blamed Google for failing to maintain its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, authorities tightened online access with extensive shutdowns of cellphone internet connections. Officials insisted this was necessary to prevent drone strikes, but experts saw it as a further measure to increase control over the digital landscape.

Action Against Messaging Apps

The government has also moved against widely-used messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were restricted in 2024. This year, officials outlawed voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, defending the measure by stating the services were being involved in illegal activities.

Concurrently, authorities have heavily pushed a dubbed "national" messenger app called "Max". Experts see it as a potential surveillance tool. The app explicitly states it will provide user information with officials if demanded, and analysts note it does not use strong encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Commentary

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

This label obligates that such services have an account with the regulator and provide state security with the ability to monitor user accounts. Platforms that fail to do so are in violation and face blocking.

Seleznev estimated that perhaps tens of millions of Russians had been using FaceTime, particularly after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the blocking of the service as "predictable" and cautioned that further services refusing to comply with authorities "are likely to be blocked – it is inevitable."

Gaming Platforms Also Targeted

As another action, the government also said it was blocking Roblox, citing safeguarding minors from illicit content. According to research group Mediascope, Roblox was the number two game platform in Russia recently, with nearly eight million monthly users.

While it remains possible to bypass certain of these blocks by using VPN services, such tools are frequently targeted by authorities as well.