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As part of a continued crackdown to increase oversight over online communications, state regulators have cut off access to the social media app Snapchat and imposed restrictions on the Apple FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Ban

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor stated that these services were being used to plan and execute terrorist activities on Russian soil, to recruit perpetrators and engage in fraudulent activities and other crimes aimed at the populace.

Officials stated it initiated the block against Snapchat on October 10, even though the move was publicly disclosed later.

Wider Context of Digital Crackdown

This recent action come after previous blocks against major platforms like YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. These measures of bans intensified after the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, authorities have pursued deliberate and comprehensive initiatives to control the digital space. This has included:

• Passing stringent legislation.
• Outlawing online services that refuse to cooperate with state demands.
• Advancing technical capabilities to track and influence internet traffic.

Other Instances of Crackdowns

Access to the YouTube platform was disrupted in the past in a case of deliberate throttling by regulators. Authorities attributed the issue to YouTube's owner, Google for not properly maintaining its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, authorities further restricted internet access with widespread shutdowns of mobile internet connections. The government stated this was needed to prevent drone strikes, but analysts argued another step to increase control over the internet.

Action Against Messaging Platforms

The government has also moved against popular communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in this year. Additionally, officials banned calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, defending the action by saying the platforms were being used for illegal activities.

Simultaneously, authorities have championed a dubbed "domestic" communication platform called Max. Observers see it as a possible surveillance tool. The service openly declares it will provide user information with officials upon request, and analysts note it lacks full encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Commentary

According to lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law classifies any service where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This label requires that platforms have an account with Roskomnadzor and allow the FSB with entry to user accounts. Those failing to do so are non-compliant and may be banned.

Seleznev pointed out that potentially a large number of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the blocking of the service as "predictable" and stated that other sites failing to cooperate with authorities "face blocking – that's obvious."

Entertainment Platforms Also Targeted

In a separate action, the government also said it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, stating the reason was protecting children from harmful content. Per data from research group Mediascope, Roblox was the second most popular game platform in Russia recently, with approximately eight million active users.

Although it remains feasible to circumvent some of these restrictions by using VPN services, those are routinely blocked by the regulator as well.