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As part of a ongoing effort to increase oversight over internet access, state authorities have cut off access to the social media app Snapchat and placed curbs on Apple's video calling service, FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Block

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor stated that these services were being used to organize and conduct terrorist activities on Russian soil, for recruiting individuals and carry out fraud and other crimes against citizens.

Officials reported it enforced the restriction on Snapchat on October 10, though the announcement was only made public later.

Wider Context of Internet Control

These latest moves follow previous blocks imposed on major platforms including YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. This wave of restrictions intensified following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, authorities have pursued systematic and wide-ranging initiatives to control the open internet. Actions have involved:

• Enacting stringent legislation.
• Outlawing websites and platforms that fail to comply with state demands.
• Perfecting technical capabilities to monitor and manipulate online traffic.

Other Instances of Restrictions

Service for the YouTube platform was disrupted previously in what experts called targeted interference by officials. The Kremlin attributed the issue to Google for failing to maintain its servers in Russia.

Recently, officials tightened internet access with broad disruptions of cellular data connections. The government claimed this was necessary to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but analysts saw it as a further measure to assert dominance over the internet.

Targeting Communication Apps

Regulators has also targeted popular messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in this year. Additionally, officials outlawed voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, explaining the action by saying the two apps were being used for illegal activities.

At the same time, authorities have actively promoted a dubbed "national" communication platform called Max. Experts see it as a potential surveillance tool. The app explicitly states it will provide user information with authorities when asked, and experts note it lacks full encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Analysis

Per lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations classifies any platform where people can communicate as an "information dissemination organizer".

This designation mandates that such services establish a presence with Roskomnadzor and provide the FSB with entry to communications. Those failing to meet these demands are non-compliant and can get blocked.

Seleznev pointed out that potentially many millions of Russians had been using FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the restrictions against the service as "expected" and warned that other sites failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "face blocking – that's obvious."

Gaming Platforms Also Affected

As another development, the authorities reported it was restricting the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at child protection from harmful content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second-largest game platform in Russia recently, with approximately 8 million monthly users.

While it remains feasible to bypass certain of these limitations by utilizing VPN services, those are frequently targeted by authorities as well.