🔗 Share this article

As part of a ongoing effort to tighten control over online communications, Russian authorities have restricted access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on the Apple FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Block

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor alleged that both applications were utilized to plan and execute acts of terrorism on Russian soil, to recruit perpetrators and carry out fraud as well as various crimes against citizens.

Roskomnadzor reported it took action against Snapchat in early October, although the announcement was publicly disclosed more recently.

Wider Campaign of Digital Crackdown

These latest moves are part of comparable limitations against major platforms including YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. This wave of restrictions escalated following the onset of the conflict of Ukraine.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, authorities have pursued calculated and multi-pronged strategies to curtail the open internet. Measures have included:

• Passing restrictive laws.
• Blocking websites and platforms that fail to comply with state demands.
• Perfecting technical capabilities to monitor and manipulate online traffic.

Other Instances of Blocks

Access to YouTube was slowed previously in a case of deliberate throttling by officials. Russian officials blamed YouTube's owner, Google for failing to maintain its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, officials further restricted online access with broad disruptions of mobile internet connections. The government stated this was needed to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but analysts argued an additional move to tighten control over the internet.

Action Against Communication Platforms

Authorities has also acted against widely-used messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were blocked in recently. Additionally, officials banned voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, justifying the ban by saying the platforms were being used for crime.

Simultaneously, the state have heavily pushed a so-called "domestic" messenger app called Max. Critics see it as a potential monitoring instrument. The service explicitly states it will share user data with the government upon request, and experts note it is not equipped with full encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Commentary

As explained by lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework defines any platform where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This designation requires that such services register with Roskomnadzor and grant Russia's security service with access to user accounts. Services failing to meet these demands are in violation and can get blocked.

Seleznev pointed out that possibly a large number of Russians had been turning to FaceTime, particularly after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the restrictions against the service as "expected" and stated that other sites that do not cooperate with Roskomnadzor "face blocking – that's obvious."

Entertainment Sites Also Targeted

In a related action, the authorities reported it was restricting the online game platform Roblox, citing protecting children from illicit content. Per data from research group Mediascope, Roblox was the number two game platform in Russia in October, with close to eight million players.

Although it is still possible to circumvent some of these restrictions by using VPN services, such tools are routinely blocked by officials as well.