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As part of a continued campaign to tighten control over online communications, Russian authorities have restricted access to Snapchat and placed curbs on the Apple video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Restrictions

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor stated that the two apps were utilized to organize and conduct acts of terrorism inside Russia, to recruit perpetrators and engage in fraudulent activities and other crimes aimed at the populace.

Officials said it enforced the restriction against Snapchat on October 10, though the move was only made public more recently.

Broader Context of Online Restrictions

These latest moves come after comparable restrictions imposed on major platforms including Google's YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. This wave of bans escalated in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, authorities have pursued deliberate and multi-pronged efforts to curtail the digital space. Actions have involved:

• Adopting tough new laws.
• Outlawing digital platforms that do not comply with local rules.
• Developing technical capabilities to observe and control digital communications.

Recent Examples of Crackdowns

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

In recent months, authorities limited online access with broad shutdowns of cellphone internet connections. Officials insisted this was required to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks, but experts contended another step to assert dominance over the internet.

Targeting Messaging Apps

The government has also moved against popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in this year. Furthermore, officials banned calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, defending the measure by stating the services were being involved in criminal activities.

At the same time, authorities have heavily pushed a dubbed "domestic" communication platform called "Max". Experts view it as a possible monitoring instrument. The service openly declares it will provide user information with the government upon request, and experts note it does not use full encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Analysis

According to cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework classifies any service where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This designation mandates that such services have an account with the regulator and allow Russia's security service with entry to user data. Those failing to meet these demands are breaking the law and may be banned.

Seleznev pointed out that perhaps tens of millions of users in Russia had been relying on FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the restrictions against the Apple service as "expected" and stated that other sites refusing to comply with authorities "face blocking – it is inevitable."

Gaming Platforms Also Targeted

In a separate development, the authorities announced it was banning Roblox, citing protecting children from illicit content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular game platform in Russia in October, with approximately 8 million monthly users.

While it is still feasible to circumvent some of these restrictions by utilizing virtual private network services, such tools are also often blocked by the regulator as well.