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In a ongoing crackdown to increase oversight over internet access, state regulators have cut off access to the social media app Snapchat and enacted limitations on Apple's FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Ban

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor stated that the two apps were employed to plan and execute terrorist activities inside Russia, to enlist people and engage in fraudulent activities and other crimes targeting Russian citizens.

Roskomnadzor said it took action on Snapchat back on the 10th of October, though the announcement was only made public on Thursday.

Broader Context of Internet Control

This recent action come after previous blocks targeting popular services including YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. The campaign of restrictions began in earnest following the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, authorities have undertaken calculated and comprehensive initiatives to rein in the open internet. Actions have involved:

• Passing restrictive laws.
• Blocking online services that do not comply with local rules.
• Perfecting technology to observe and control internet traffic.

Other Examples of Crackdowns

Access to the YouTube platform was slowed previously in a case of deliberate throttling by officials. Russian officials blamed Google for failing to maintain its hardware in Russia.

Recently, authorities tightened online access with broad disruptions of cellular data connections. Officials stated this was required to thwart Ukrainian drone attacks, but experts contended a further measure to assert dominance over the digital landscape.

Action Against Communication Platforms

The government has also acted against widely-used communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were banned in 2024. This year, authorities outlawed voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, defending the ban by claiming the services were being used for illegal activities.

Concurrently, authorities have actively promoted a dubbed "national" messenger app called "Max". Experts regard it as a possible tool for oversight. The service admits it will provide user information with the government if demanded, and analysts note it lacks full encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Analysis

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

This label mandates that platforms have an account with Roskomnadzor and grant state security with access to user data. Those failing to do so are in violation and can get blocked.

Seleznev pointed out that perhaps a large number of Russians had been turning to FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on other messaging apps. He described the restrictions against the service as "expected" and warned that other sites failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "are likely to be blocked – that's obvious."

Gaming Sites Also Targeted

In a separate move, the government reported it was banning the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at child protection from illicit content. According to research group Mediascope, the platform was the number two gaming site in Russia recently, with nearly 8 million monthly users.

Although it is still possible to circumvent some of these limitations by using virtual private network services, those are frequently targeted by officials as well.