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As part of a sustained effort to exert greater control over internet access, Russian regulators have cut off access to the social media app Snapchat and imposed restrictions on Apple's FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Block

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor claimed that these services were utilized to organize and conduct acts of terrorism within the country, for recruiting individuals and engage in fraudulent activities along with other offenses against citizens.

Roskomnadzor said it took action on Snapchat on October 10, though the move was only made public later.

Wider Context of Internet Control

This recent action come after comparable limitations targeting popular services like YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. The campaign of censorship escalated following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, authorities have undertaken systematic and wide-ranging efforts to rein in the internet. This has included:

• Passing stringent legislation.
• Outlawing websites and platforms that fail to comply with Russian regulations.
• Advancing technology to observe and control online traffic.

Other Examples of Blocks

Service for YouTube was slowed previously in an incident described as targeted interference by officials. Russian officials pointed the finger at YouTube's owner, Google for failing to maintain its infrastructure in Russia.

This summer, officials further restricted connectivity with broad disruptions of cellular data connections. Officials stated this was required to thwart drone strikes, but analysts saw it as a further measure to tighten control over the digital landscape.

Action Against Communication Platforms

The government has also moved against widely-used messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in recently. Additionally, officials outlawed voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, defending the action by saying the platforms were being used for criminal activities.

Simultaneously, authorities have championed a so-called "domestic" communication platform called "Max". Experts regard it as a potential surveillance tool. The platform explicitly states it will hand over data with the government when asked, and experts note it does not use end-to-end encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Analysis

Per lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law defines any platform where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This label mandates that such services establish a presence with the regulator and provide the FSB with the ability to monitor user accounts. Services failing to comply are in violation and may be banned.

Seleznev estimated that potentially tens of millions of users in Russia had been using FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the blocking of the service as "expected" and cautioned that other platforms that do not cooperate with authorities "are likely to be blocked – it is inevitable."

Gaming Platforms Also Affected

In a separate development, the government reported it was banning Roblox, citing child protection from inappropriate material. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the number two game platform in Russia recently, with close to 8 million players.

While it is still feasible to circumvent some of these restrictions by employing virtual private network services, VPNs themselves are routinely blocked by officials as well.