Russian Authorities Blocks Snapchat and Cracks Down on Apple's FaceTime, State Media Say

Amid a continued campaign to exert greater control over online communications, Russian authorities have restricted access to the social media app Snapchat and imposed restrictions on the Apple video calling service, FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Restrictions

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor alleged that these services were utilized to facilitate and carry out acts of terrorism inside Russia, to recruit perpetrators and engage in fraudulent activities and other crimes against citizens.

Officials reported it enforced the restriction against Snapchat in early October, though the announcement was only reported on Thursday.

Broader Context of Internet Control

These latest moves follow previous limitations against popular services including YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. The campaign of bans escalated after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have undertaken calculated and comprehensive strategies to curtail the digital space. This has included:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Blocking websites and platforms that fail to comply with state demands.
• Advancing technical capabilities to monitor and manipulate online traffic.

Recent Instances of Blocks

Access to YouTube was slowed previously in a case of deliberate throttling by regulators. The Kremlin blamed Google for allegedly neglecting its hardware in Russia.

This summer, authorities tightened online access with extensive shutdowns of cellular data connections. The government claimed this was needed to counter drone strikes, but critics saw it as an additional move to increase control over the digital landscape.

Action Against Communication Apps

The government has also moved against popular messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were blocked in this year. This year, officials banned voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, explaining the ban by claiming the services were being involved in crime.

Simultaneously, the state have actively promoted a so-called "national" messenger app called "Max". Observers view it as a possible surveillance tool. The platform explicitly states it will hand over data with the government if demanded, and analysts note it lacks full encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Analysis

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

This classification obligates that platforms register with the regulator and allow Russia's security service with the ability to monitor communications. Services failing to meet these demands are non-compliant and face blocking.

Seleznev noted that potentially many millions of Russians had been using FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on other messaging apps. He described the blocking of the service as "expected" and warned that further services refusing to comply with Roskomnadzor "will be blocked – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Platforms Too Affected

As another move, the authorities announced it was banning the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at protecting children from illicit content. According to research group Mediascope, the platform was the second-largest game platform in Russia recently, with approximately 8 million active users.

While it remains possible to circumvent some of these limitations by utilizing virtual private network services, such tools are also often blocked by the regulator as well.