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Amid a ongoing crackdown to increase oversight over digital platforms, state authorities have restricted access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Block

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor alleged that these services were being used to facilitate and carry out acts of terrorism on Russian soil, to recruit perpetrators and engage in fraudulent activities along with other offenses against citizens.

Roskomnadzor said it enforced the restriction targeting Snapchat on October 10, though the announcement was publicly disclosed later.

Wider Campaign of Digital Crackdown

These new restrictions come after comparable restrictions against key apps like Google's YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. The campaign of bans intensified after the 2022 military action of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have pursued deliberate and wide-ranging efforts to curtail the open internet. This has included:

• Passing tough new laws.
• Banning websites and platforms that do not comply with state demands.
• Perfecting systems to monitor and manipulate internet traffic.

Recent Instances of Restrictions

Access to the YouTube platform was slowed in the past in what experts called intentional slowing by regulators. Authorities pointed the finger at Google for not properly maintaining its servers in Russia.

Recently, authorities limited online access with broad shutdowns of mobile internet connections. The government insisted this was needed to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but critics contended an additional move to increase control over the internet.

Targeting Communication Platforms

Authorities has also targeted popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were restricted in recently. Furthermore, authorities outlawed voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the measure by claiming the two apps were being involved in criminal activities.

At the same time, the state have championed a so-called "national" communication platform called Max. Observers regard it as a possible surveillance tool. The service admits it will share user data with the government when asked, and analysts note it lacks end-to-end encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Commentary

According to lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework views any service where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This designation requires that platforms establish a presence with the regulator and allow the FSB with entry to user data. Services failing to comply are breaking the law and face blocking.

Seleznev estimated that perhaps a large number of users in Russia had been relying on FaceTime, especially after voice calls were prohibited on other messaging apps. He called the blocking of the Apple service as "expected" and cautioned that other sites that do not cooperate with authorities "are likely to be blocked – that is clear."

Entertainment Sites Also Affected

As another development, the authorities reported it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at child protection from illicit content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second most popular game platform in Russia recently, with approximately 8 million active users.

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