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In a continued crackdown to increase oversight over internet access, Russian officials have restricted access to the social media app Snapchat and imposed restrictions on the Apple FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Block

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor alleged that the two apps were utilized to organize and conduct terrorist acts inside Russia, to enlist people and carry out fraud and other crimes targeting Russian citizens.

The regulator said it initiated the block against Snapchat in early October, although the announcement was only made public more recently.

Wider Context of Internet Control

This recent action come after comparable blocks targeting major platforms like Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. These measures of restrictions escalated following the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, authorities have engaged in deliberate and wide-ranging strategies to control the internet. Measures have included:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Banning websites and platforms that refuse to cooperate with local rules.
• Perfecting technical capabilities to observe and control digital communications.

Recent Instances of Blocks

Service for the YouTube platform was disrupted previously in a case of targeted interference by regulators. The Kremlin blamed Google for failing to maintain its hardware in Russia.

This summer, authorities limited connectivity with widespread outages of mobile internet connections. The government stated this was necessary to thwart Ukrainian drone attacks, but experts saw it as an additional move to increase control over the internet.

Targeting Messaging Apps

The government has also moved against popular messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were blocked in this year. Furthermore, officials prohibited voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the action by claiming the two apps were being involved in crime.

At the same time, authorities have championed a so-called "domestic" messenger app called "Max". Observers view it as a potential surveillance tool. The service explicitly states it will hand over data with officials when asked, and experts note it does not use strong encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Commentary

According to cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations views any platform where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This label obligates that such services register with the regulator and grant state security with access to communications. Those failing to do so are in violation and face blocking.

Seleznev pointed out that perhaps a large number of users in Russia 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 other sites failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "face blocking – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Platforms Too Targeted

In a separate development, the authorities reported it was blocking Roblox, claiming it aimed at protecting children from harmful content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the number two game platform in Russia last month, with close to eight million monthly users.

Although it is still feasible to bypass certain of these blocks by using VPN services, such tools are frequently targeted by officials as well.