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As part of a continued crackdown to exert greater control over online communications, Russian officials have restricted access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on Apple's FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Ban

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor claimed that these services were being used to plan and execute terrorist acts on Russian soil, to recruit perpetrators and commit fraud along with other offenses aimed at the populace.

Roskomnadzor stated it initiated the block targeting Snapchat in early October, though the decision was publicly disclosed more recently.

Wider Context of Digital Crackdown

These new restrictions come after comparable restrictions against major platforms including YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. These measures of bans escalated after the 2022 military action of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, authorities have undertaken calculated and comprehensive strategies to control the internet. Measures have included:

• Passing restrictive laws.
• Banning websites and platforms that refuse to cooperate with state demands.
• Perfecting systems to track and influence digital communications.

Recent Instances of Restrictions

Access to the YouTube platform was throttled previously in an incident described as targeted interference by the authorities. Authorities pointed the finger at YouTube's owner, Google for failing to maintain its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, authorities limited connectivity with broad disruptions of cellular data connections. The government stated this was necessary to thwart Ukrainian drone attacks, but experts saw it as a further measure to tighten control over the internet.

Targeting Messaging Platforms

The government has also acted against popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were blocked in 2024. Furthermore, officials outlawed calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, explaining the ban by saying the services were being used for illegal activities.

Concurrently, the state have heavily pushed a dubbed "domestic" messenger app called Max. Observers see it as a potential tool for oversight. The app explicitly states it will hand over data with the government when asked, and experts note it is not equipped with strong encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

According to cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law classifies any platform where people can communicate as an "information dissemination organizer".

This label requires that platforms establish a presence with Roskomnadzor and grant state security with entry to user data. Platforms that fail to meet these demands are breaking the law and face blocking.

Seleznev estimated that perhaps tens of millions of users in Russia had been turning to FaceTime, particularly after restrictions were placed on other messaging apps. He described the restrictions against the service as "predictable" and stated that other sites refusing to comply with authorities "will be blocked – that is clear."

Gaming Platforms Too Affected

As another move, the government announced it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, stating the reason was safeguarding minors from harmful content. According to research group Mediascope, Roblox was the second most popular gaming site in Russia in October, with approximately eight million active users.

While it is still possible to get around a few of these blocks by utilizing VPN services, VPNs themselves are also often blocked by authorities as well.