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In a ongoing effort to increase oversight over internet access, Russian regulators have restricted access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on Apple's video calling service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Ban

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor claimed that these services were utilized to organize and conduct terrorist activities within the country, to enlist people and commit fraud as well as various crimes against citizens.

Officials stated it initiated the block targeting Snapchat in early October, though the decision was publicly disclosed later.

Broader Campaign of Online Restrictions

This recent action come after similar limitations imposed on key apps such as YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. The campaign of restrictions began in earnest in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, the government have pursued deliberate and comprehensive strategies to control the open internet. This has included:

• Passing stringent legislation.
• Banning websites and platforms that refuse to cooperate with state demands.
• Perfecting systems to observe and control internet traffic.

Other Instances of Blocks

Access to YouTube was slowed last year in what experts called intentional slowing by regulators. The Kremlin pointed the finger at YouTube's owner, Google for failing to maintain its servers in Russia.

Recently, officials limited online access with widespread disruptions of cellular data connections. Officials claimed this was needed to thwart Ukrainian drone attacks, but experts argued another step to tighten control over the internet.

Action Against Communication Apps

Authorities has also targeted widely-used messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were banned in this year. Furthermore, authorities prohibited voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, defending the action by saying the services were being used for illegal activities.

Simultaneously, authorities have championed a dubbed "national" messenger app called "Max". Experts view it as a potential monitoring instrument. The service admits it will provide user information with officials upon request, and experts note it is not equipped with strong encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Analysis

Per cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework views any service where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This label requires that platforms register with the regulator and grant Russia's security service with access to user data. Services failing to do so are in violation and can get blocked.

Seleznev pointed out that possibly a large number of Russians had been turning to FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on other messaging apps. He described the blocking of the Apple service as "predictable" and stated that further services that do not cooperate with Roskomnadzor "will be blocked – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Platforms Also Affected

As another action, the authorities reported it was restricting the online game platform Roblox, stating the reason was safeguarding minors from harmful content. According to research group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular game platform in Russia last month, with approximately eight million players.

While it remains possible to circumvent some of these limitations by utilizing VPN services, such tools are frequently targeted by the regulator as well.