🔗 Share this article

As part of a sustained campaign to tighten control over internet access, Russian officials have cut off access to Snapchat and placed curbs on Apple's video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Block

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor alleged that the two apps were being used to plan and execute acts of terrorism within the country, to enlist people and engage in fraudulent activities along with other offenses against citizens.

The regulator reported it took action against Snapchat back on the 10th of October, though the decision was only reported on Thursday.

Broader Campaign of Internet Control

These latest moves come after similar blocks imposed on key apps such as YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. These measures of bans began in earnest in the wake of the onset of the conflict of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, authorities have engaged in deliberate and multi-pronged initiatives to curtail the open internet. This has included:

• Adopting stringent legislation.
• Blocking online services that fail to comply with local rules.
• Developing technical capabilities to observe and control internet traffic.

Recent Instances of Restrictions

Service for YouTube was slowed last year in an incident described as targeted interference by regulators. Authorities attributed the issue to YouTube's owner, Google for not properly maintaining its hardware in Russia.

In recent months, authorities limited connectivity with broad outages of cellular data connections. Officials claimed this was required to prevent drone strikes, but critics contended an additional move to increase control over the internet.

Action Against Messaging Apps

Authorities has also targeted popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in 2024. Furthermore, authorities banned calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, justifying the measure by stating the services were being involved in illegal activities.

Simultaneously, the state have actively promoted a so-called "domestic" messenger app called Max. Critics view it as a potential tool for oversight. The platform admits it will hand over data with the government when asked, and experts note it does not use full encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Commentary

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

This classification requires that such services register with the regulator and allow state security with access to communications. Those failing to do so are breaking the law and can get blocked.

Seleznev noted that perhaps tens of millions of users in Russia had been turning to FaceTime, particularly after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the restrictions against the service as "predictable" and cautioned that other sites failing to cooperate with authorities "will be blocked – that is clear."

Gaming Platforms Too Targeted

In a related move, the government reported it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, citing safeguarding minors from illicit content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the number two gaming site in Russia in October, with approximately eight million players.

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