🔗 Share this article

As part of a sustained effort to exert greater control over online communications, state regulators have blocked access to the social media app Snapchat and imposed restrictions on Apple's FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Ban

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor alleged that both applications were employed to facilitate and carry out terrorist acts on Russian soil, for recruiting individuals and commit fraud and other crimes targeting Russian citizens.

Officials said it enforced the restriction on Snapchat on October 10, even though the move was only reported more recently.

Wider Context of Internet Control

These latest moves come after similar restrictions imposed on key apps such as YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. These measures of bans began in earnest in the wake of the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, the government have undertaken deliberate and comprehensive strategies to rein in the open internet. Measures have included:

• Passing restrictive laws.
• Outlawing online services that do not comply with state demands.
• Advancing technical capabilities to track and influence online traffic.

Other Examples of Crackdowns

Service for the YouTube platform was disrupted last year in a case of intentional slowing by the authorities. The Kremlin blamed Google for allegedly neglecting its infrastructure in Russia.

In recent months, authorities further restricted connectivity with broad shutdowns of mobile internet connections. The government stated this was required to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but critics argued an additional move to assert dominance over the internet.

Action Against Messaging Platforms

The government has also acted against widely-used communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were banned in 2024. Furthermore, officials prohibited calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, defending the ban by saying the two apps were being facilitating criminal activities.

Concurrently, authorities have championed a dubbed "national" communication platform called Max. Experts view it as a possible surveillance tool. The app admits it will hand over data with officials if demanded, and analysts note it lacks end-to-end encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Commentary

According to lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework classifies any platform where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This classification mandates that platforms have an account with the regulator and provide Russia's security service with entry to user data. Platforms that fail to comply are in violation and may be banned.

Seleznev estimated that perhaps many millions 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 stated that further services refusing to comply with authorities "face blocking – that is clear."

Gaming Sites Too Affected

In a separate move, the government reported it was restricting the online game platform Roblox, stating the reason was safeguarding minors from illicit content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular gaming site in Russia in October, with approximately eight million monthly users.

Although it is still feasible to bypass certain of these restrictions by using virtual private network services, such tools are frequently targeted by the regulator as well.