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As part of a sustained crackdown to increase oversight over online communications, Russian regulators have restricted access to the social media app Snapchat and imposed restrictions on Apple's FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Block

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor alleged that these services were employed to plan and execute acts of terrorism on Russian soil, for recruiting individuals and engage in fraudulent activities and other crimes against citizens.

Officials stated it enforced the restriction on Snapchat on October 10, although the move was only made public more recently.

Broader Context of Digital Crackdown

These latest moves are part of comparable limitations imposed on major platforms such as YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. This wave of bans began in earnest after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, the government have engaged in calculated and multi-pronged efforts to curtail the internet. Measures have included:

• Enacting stringent legislation.
• Blocking online services that do not comply with state demands.
• Advancing technical capabilities to monitor and manipulate digital communications.

Other Examples of Crackdowns

Service for YouTube was throttled in the past in a case of targeted interference by officials. Authorities attributed the issue to YouTube's owner, Google for failing to maintain its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, officials tightened online access with widespread disruptions of cellphone internet connections. The government claimed this was necessary to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but analysts argued a further measure to assert dominance over the digital landscape.

Action Against Communication Platforms

The government has also moved against widely-used messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were blocked in 2024. This year, officials banned calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the measure by saying the platforms were being facilitating crime.

At the same time, the state have championed a so-called "domestic" messenger app called Max. Experts view it as a possible surveillance tool. The app admits it will share user data with officials if demanded, and analysts note it lacks full encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Commentary

According to lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law views any service where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This label mandates that such services register with the regulator and grant Russia's security service with the ability to monitor communications. Those failing to do so are in violation and may be banned.

Seleznev estimated that perhaps a large number of users in Russia had been using FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the blocking of the Apple service as "expected" and stated that other sites failing to cooperate with authorities "are likely to be blocked – that is clear."

Gaming Platforms Also Affected

As another action, the government announced it was restricting the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at safeguarding minors from harmful content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular game platform in Russia in October, with nearly 8 million players.

While it is still possible to circumvent some of these blocks by using virtual private network services, VPNs themselves are frequently targeted by authorities as well.