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In a ongoing effort to increase oversight over online communications, Russian authorities have blocked access to the social media app Snapchat and imposed restrictions on Apple's video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Ban

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor stated that these services were employed to facilitate and carry out terrorist activities on Russian soil, to enlist people and engage in fraudulent activities and other crimes aimed at the populace.

Roskomnadzor stated it took action against Snapchat in early October, even though the move was only reported more recently.

Wider Context of Internet Control

This recent action come after similar blocks against popular services like Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. The campaign of bans intensified after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, the government have undertaken deliberate and multi-pronged initiatives to rein in the open internet. Actions have involved:

• Passing tough new laws.
• Blocking online services that do not comply with Russian regulations.
• Advancing systems to monitor and manipulate digital communications.

Recent Examples of Blocks

Access to YouTube was disrupted last year in an incident described as deliberate throttling by regulators. The Kremlin blamed YouTube's owner, Google for not properly maintaining its servers in Russia.

This summer, authorities further restricted connectivity with broad outages of mobile internet connections. The government stated this was required to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks, but critics argued another step to tighten control over the internet.

Targeting Communication Apps

The government has also targeted popular messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were restricted in 2024. Additionally, officials banned calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, justifying the measure by stating the two apps were being used for illegal activities.

At the same time, authorities have championed a so-called "domestic" messenger app called Max. Experts view it as a potential monitoring instrument. The service explicitly states it will hand over data with authorities when asked, and analysts note it is not equipped with strong encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Commentary

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

This classification mandates that platforms have an account with Roskomnadzor and provide Russia's security service with the ability to monitor user accounts. Services failing to comply are in violation and face blocking.

Seleznev pointed out that possibly a large number of users in Russia had been relying on FaceTime, particularly after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the restrictions against the Apple service as "predictable" and warned that further services refusing to comply with authorities "are likely to be blocked – that is clear."

Gaming Sites Too Affected

In a separate development, the government announced it was banning Roblox, stating the reason was child protection from illicit content. According to research group Mediascope, the platform was the number two gaming site in Russia last month, with nearly eight million active users.

Although it is still feasible to bypass certain of these blocks by employing VPN services, those are routinely blocked by authorities as well.