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As part of a continued crackdown to increase oversight over internet access, state regulators have cut off access to Snapchat and placed curbs on Apple's video calling service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Restrictions

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor alleged that the two apps were utilized to facilitate and carry out acts of terrorism on Russian soil, to recruit perpetrators and commit fraud along with other offenses aimed at the populace.

Roskomnadzor reported it took action on Snapchat on October 10, although the announcement was publicly disclosed more recently.

Wider Context of Internet Control

These new restrictions follow comparable limitations against popular services such as Google's YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. These measures of bans escalated after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, authorities have engaged in systematic and wide-ranging initiatives to control the open internet. Measures have included:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Outlawing digital platforms that fail to comply with local rules.
• Developing technical capabilities to monitor and manipulate internet traffic.

Recent Instances of Crackdowns

Service for the YouTube platform was throttled in the past in an incident described as deliberate throttling by the authorities. The Kremlin attributed the issue to Google for allegedly neglecting its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, officials tightened internet access with extensive disruptions of cellular data connections. Officials insisted this was required to thwart Ukrainian drone attacks, but critics saw it as a further measure to increase control over the digital landscape.

Targeting Messaging Platforms

Regulators has also targeted popular communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in this year. Furthermore, authorities outlawed voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the action by stating the platforms were being facilitating illegal activities.

At the same time, authorities have actively promoted a dubbed "national" messenger app called Max. Experts regard it as a potential tool for oversight. The platform openly declares it will provide user information with authorities upon request, and experts note it is not equipped with full encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

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

This label requires that platforms establish a presence with the regulator and allow the FSB with the ability to monitor user data. Platforms that fail to meet these demands are breaking the law and face blocking.

Seleznev estimated that perhaps many millions of users in Russia had been turning to FaceTime, especially after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the blocking of the Apple service as "predictable" and stated that further services failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "face blocking – that's obvious."

Gaming Platforms Too Affected

In a separate action, the authorities also said it was blocking Roblox, citing child protection from illicit content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second-largest game platform in Russia recently, with approximately 8 million players.

Although it remains feasible to get around a few of these blocks by utilizing virtual private network services, such tools are routinely blocked by officials as well.