🔗 Share this article

Amid a sustained crackdown to tighten control over internet access, state officials have restricted access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Restrictions

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor alleged that these services were employed to facilitate and carry out acts of terrorism inside Russia, to enlist people and carry out fraud along with other offenses targeting Russian citizens.

The regulator stated it initiated the block targeting Snapchat on October 10, though the decision was only made public more recently.

Broader Campaign of Online Restrictions

These new restrictions are part of comparable limitations against key apps such as Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. These measures of restrictions began in earnest following the onset of the conflict of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, authorities have pursued calculated and wide-ranging initiatives to curtail the internet. This has included:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Blocking websites and platforms that refuse to cooperate with local rules.
• Advancing technical capabilities to track and influence digital communications.

Other Examples of Restrictions

Access to the YouTube platform was slowed last year in a case of targeted interference by regulators. Authorities blamed YouTube's owner, Google for failing to maintain its servers in Russia.

Recently, officials limited connectivity with widespread shutdowns of mobile internet connections. Officials insisted this was necessary to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but critics saw it as a further measure to assert dominance over the internet.

Action Against Messaging Apps

Regulators has also targeted popular communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in 2024. This year, authorities outlawed voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, defending the action by stating the two apps were being involved in illegal activities.

At the same time, authorities have championed a so-called "national" communication platform called "Max". Observers regard it as a possible monitoring instrument. The service admits it will share user data with authorities if demanded, and experts note it lacks full encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Commentary

As explained by lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations views any service where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This classification requires that such services register with the regulator and allow state security with entry to user data. Services failing to comply are non-compliant and may be banned.

Seleznev pointed out that possibly a large number of users in Russia had been turning to FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the restrictions against the Apple service as "expected" and warned that further services failing to cooperate with authorities "are likely to be blocked – that's obvious."

Entertainment Sites Also Affected

As another action, the authorities reported it was blocking Roblox, claiming it aimed at child protection from illicit content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second-largest gaming site in Russia last month, with close to eight million monthly users.

Although it is still possible to get around a few of these limitations by utilizing VPN services, VPNs themselves are also often blocked by officials as well.