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As part of a continued campaign to tighten control over digital platforms, state authorities have restricted access to the social media app Snapchat and enacted limitations on Apple's FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Block

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor alleged that these services were being used to facilitate and carry out terrorist acts within the country, for recruiting individuals and carry out fraud as well as various crimes against citizens.

The regulator said it took action targeting Snapchat on October 10, even though the move was only reported more recently.

Broader Campaign of Internet Control

These latest moves are part of similar blocks against popular services such as YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. These measures of censorship intensified following the onset of the conflict of Ukraine.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, the government have engaged in systematic and wide-ranging efforts to rein in the internet. This has included:

• Adopting stringent legislation.
• Outlawing websites and platforms that refuse to cooperate with local rules.
• Perfecting technical capabilities to observe and control digital communications.

Other Instances of Restrictions

Access to YouTube was disrupted previously in an incident described as deliberate throttling by officials. The Kremlin pointed the finger at Google for not properly maintaining its infrastructure in Russia.

This summer, officials further restricted internet access with broad shutdowns of mobile internet connections. Officials insisted this was necessary to prevent drone strikes, but analysts saw it as an additional move to tighten control over the internet.

Targeting Messaging Platforms

Regulators has also moved against widely-used messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were banned in 2024. Additionally, officials banned voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the ban by saying the two apps were being facilitating crime.

Simultaneously, authorities have actively promoted a so-called "domestic" messenger app called Max. Observers regard it as a possible surveillance tool. The app openly declares it will share user data with the government upon request, and experts note it does not use full encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Commentary

According to lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework defines any service where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This designation requires that platforms register with the regulator and allow state security with the ability to monitor user data. Services failing to comply are non-compliant and face blocking.

Seleznev pointed out that perhaps many millions of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, especially after voice calls were prohibited on other messaging apps. He described the restrictions against the service as "predictable" and stated that other platforms failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "are likely to be blocked – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Sites Too Affected

In a related action, the authorities also said it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at child protection from illicit content. Per data from research group Mediascope, the platform was the number two gaming site in Russia in October, with nearly 8 million monthly users.

While it remains possible to bypass certain of these restrictions by utilizing virtual private network services, those are also often blocked by authorities as well.