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Amid a continued campaign to exert greater control over internet access, state officials have cut off access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on Apple's video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Ban

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor stated that both applications were being used to plan and execute acts of terrorism within the country, to recruit perpetrators and engage in fraudulent activities and other crimes targeting Russian citizens.

Roskomnadzor stated it enforced the restriction targeting Snapchat in early October, even though the move was publicly disclosed on Thursday.

Wider Campaign of Internet Control

These new restrictions come after comparable restrictions targeting popular services including Google's YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. These measures of restrictions began in earnest following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have pursued deliberate and wide-ranging strategies to control the digital space. Measures have included:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Blocking digital platforms that do not comply with local rules.
• Developing systems to observe and control online traffic.

Recent Instances of Blocks

Access to the YouTube platform was throttled previously in a case of targeted interference by the authorities. Russian officials attributed the issue to YouTube's owner, Google for allegedly neglecting its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, authorities tightened online access with broad disruptions of mobile internet connections. Officials stated this was needed to counter drone strikes, but critics contended an additional move to tighten control over the digital landscape.

Targeting Communication Platforms

The government has also targeted popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were banned in this year. Additionally, officials prohibited calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, defending the measure by claiming the platforms were being facilitating illegal activities.

At the same time, authorities have actively promoted a so-called "domestic" messenger app called "Max". Experts see it as a possible monitoring instrument. The platform admits it will provide user information with authorities if demanded, and analysts note it is not equipped with strong encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Analysis

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

This classification obligates that platforms register with Roskomnadzor and grant Russia's security service with entry to communications. Platforms that fail to meet these demands are non-compliant and can get blocked.

Seleznev noted that potentially tens of millions of Russians had been turning to FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the restrictions against the service as "expected" and stated that further services failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "will be blocked – that is clear."

Entertainment Platforms Too Targeted

In a separate move, the authorities also said it was restricting Roblox, stating the reason was protecting children from illicit content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the number two gaming site in Russia recently, with nearly 8 million players.

Although it remains feasible to bypass certain of these restrictions by utilizing VPN services, those are also often blocked by the regulator as well.