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Amid a sustained effort to tighten control over internet access, Russian regulators have blocked access to the social media app Snapchat and placed curbs on the Apple video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Ban

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor claimed that the two apps were being used to facilitate and carry out acts of terrorism on Russian soil, to recruit perpetrators and engage in fraudulent activities and other crimes aimed at the populace.

Officials said it initiated the block on Snapchat on October 10, even though the decision was only reported later.

Broader Context of Internet Control

These latest moves come after similar restrictions targeting major platforms such as YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. These measures of censorship escalated after the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have undertaken calculated and wide-ranging efforts to control the digital space. This has included:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Blocking websites and platforms that refuse to cooperate with state demands.
• Advancing technology to observe and control internet traffic.

Recent Examples of Crackdowns

Access to the YouTube platform was disrupted last year in what experts called targeted interference by officials. The Kremlin blamed Google for not properly maintaining its servers in Russia.

In recent months, officials tightened online access with broad shutdowns of cellphone internet connections. Officials claimed this was needed to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but critics argued an additional move to increase control over the internet.

Action Against Messaging Platforms

Regulators has also targeted widely-used communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were blocked in this year. This year, authorities prohibited voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, justifying the ban by saying the services were being facilitating crime.

Concurrently, the state have actively promoted a dubbed "domestic" communication platform called Max. Critics regard it as a potential tool for oversight. The platform admits it will share user data with authorities upon request, and experts note it is not equipped with full encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Commentary

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

This label obligates that platforms register with Roskomnadzor and grant the FSB with entry to user accounts. Platforms that fail to comply are in violation and may be banned.

Seleznev pointed out that perhaps many millions of Russians had been turning to FaceTime, particularly after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the blocking of the service as "expected" and warned that further services refusing to comply with Roskomnadzor "are likely to be blocked – that is clear."

Gaming Platforms Too Affected

As another development, the government reported it was banning the online game platform Roblox, citing safeguarding minors from harmful content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second most popular gaming site in Russia recently, with approximately eight million active users.

While it remains possible to bypass certain of these restrictions by employing VPN services, those are also often blocked by authorities as well.