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In a sustained campaign to tighten control over digital platforms, state officials have blocked access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Ban

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor alleged that these services were being used to organize and conduct acts of terrorism inside Russia, to enlist people and carry out fraud along with other offenses targeting Russian citizens.

Roskomnadzor stated it enforced the restriction targeting Snapchat in early October, even though the announcement was only reported later.

Broader Context of Digital Crackdown

These new restrictions follow similar limitations against popular services like Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. These measures of restrictions began in earnest after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have pursued systematic and comprehensive efforts to curtail the digital space. Actions have involved:

• Adopting stringent legislation.
• Banning digital platforms that fail to comply with Russian regulations.
• Advancing systems to track and influence online traffic.

Recent Examples of Crackdowns

Service for the YouTube platform was disrupted last year in an incident described as targeted interference by officials. Russian officials attributed the issue to Google for failing to maintain its servers in Russia.

In recent months, authorities limited internet access with broad shutdowns of cellular data connections. Officials claimed this was necessary to counter drone strikes, but critics contended a further measure to tighten control over the internet.

Targeting Messaging Platforms

The government has also targeted widely-used communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were banned in 2024. Additionally, officials prohibited calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the ban by claiming the two apps were being facilitating criminal activities.

At the same time, authorities have actively promoted a so-called "domestic" communication platform called "Max". Critics view it as a possible surveillance tool. The platform openly declares it will hand over data with the government if demanded, and analysts note it does not use end-to-end encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Analysis

As explained by cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law views any service where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This designation obligates that platforms establish a presence with Roskomnadzor and provide state security with the ability to monitor user accounts. Those failing to meet these demands are in violation and face blocking.

Seleznev pointed out that potentially a large number of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, especially after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the restrictions against the Apple service as "predictable" and warned that other platforms failing to cooperate with authorities "will be blocked – that is clear."

Entertainment Platforms Also Affected

As another development, the government also said it was restricting Roblox, claiming it aimed at protecting children from harmful content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the number two game platform in Russia last month, with approximately 8 million players.

Although it is still possible to bypass certain of these limitations by employing virtual private network services, those are routinely blocked by officials as well.