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As part of a sustained campaign to increase oversight over internet access, Russian regulators have blocked access to the social media app Snapchat and imposed restrictions on Apple's FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Block

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor stated that the two apps were utilized to plan and execute acts of terrorism inside Russia, to recruit perpetrators and commit fraud along with other offenses targeting Russian citizens.

The regulator stated it enforced the restriction targeting Snapchat on October 10, although the decision was only reported on Thursday.

Wider Campaign of Online Restrictions

These latest moves follow similar limitations against popular services such as Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. These measures of censorship began in earnest after the onset of the conflict of Ukraine by Russia.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have pursued deliberate and multi-pronged initiatives to rein in the internet. This has included:

• Passing tough new laws.
• Blocking online services that do not comply with state demands.
• Developing systems to track and influence digital communications.

Other Examples of Restrictions

Access to YouTube was slowed previously in what experts called targeted interference by regulators. Russian officials blamed YouTube's owner, Google for allegedly neglecting its hardware in Russia.

Recently, authorities tightened online access with widespread disruptions of cellphone internet connections. The government claimed this was needed to thwart Ukrainian drone attacks, but critics argued another step to increase control over the digital landscape.

Targeting Communication Platforms

Authorities has also targeted popular messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in recently. This year, authorities outlawed calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, defending the ban by stating the services were being involved in crime.

Concurrently, authorities have championed a dubbed "national" messenger app called Max. Experts see it as a possible monitoring instrument. The app openly declares it will share user data with authorities upon request, and experts note it is not equipped with end-to-end encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Analysis

Per lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework classifies any platform where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This label requires that platforms have an account with Roskomnadzor and allow the FSB with access to communications. Those failing to comply are breaking the law and may be banned.

Seleznev noted that perhaps a large number of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on other messaging apps. He called the restrictions against the service as "predictable" and cautioned that further services failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "will be blocked – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Platforms Also Targeted

In a related development, the authorities also said it was banning Roblox, citing child protection from illicit content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second-largest game platform in Russia in October, with nearly eight million active users.

While it remains feasible to circumvent some of these restrictions by utilizing VPN services, such tools are frequently targeted by authorities as well.