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In a ongoing campaign to increase oversight over digital platforms, state regulators have cut off access to the social media app Snapchat and placed curbs on the Apple video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Restrictions

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor alleged that both applications were utilized to facilitate and carry out terrorist acts on Russian soil, to enlist people and commit fraud and other crimes aimed at the populace.

The regulator reported it enforced the restriction against Snapchat in early October, though the decision was only made public later.

Broader Campaign of Online Restrictions

These new restrictions are part of similar restrictions targeting popular services including YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. These measures of bans began in earnest in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, authorities have pursued calculated and multi-pronged initiatives to rein in the internet. Measures have included:

• Adopting stringent legislation.
• Banning digital platforms that do not comply with local rules.
• Advancing technical capabilities to observe and control online traffic.

Other Instances of Blocks

Service for YouTube was disrupted previously in an incident described as deliberate throttling by the authorities. The Kremlin blamed YouTube's owner, Google for failing to maintain its hardware in Russia.

Recently, officials limited online access with extensive outages of cellphone internet connections. The government claimed this was necessary to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but experts contended another step to assert dominance over the digital landscape.

Action Against Communication Apps

The government has also moved against widely-used communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were restricted in recently. This year, officials prohibited voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, justifying the ban by stating the platforms were being used for crime.

Simultaneously, the state have heavily pushed a dubbed "domestic" communication platform called "Max". Critics regard it as a potential surveillance tool. The platform openly declares it will hand over data with the government when asked, and experts note it is not equipped with full encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Commentary

As explained by lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law defines any service where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This label requires that such services register with the regulator and grant the FSB with entry to user accounts. Those failing to do so are breaking the law and may be banned.

Seleznev noted that possibly tens of millions of users in Russia had been using FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the blocking of the service as "expected" and cautioned that other platforms refusing to comply with authorities "face blocking – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Sites Too Affected

As another action, the government announced it was blocking Roblox, citing protecting children from illicit content. Per data from research group Mediascope, Roblox was the second-largest gaming site in Russia last month, with close to 8 million monthly users.

Although it is still feasible to get around a few of these blocks by using VPN services, those are also often blocked by officials as well.