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In a ongoing campaign to increase oversight over digital platforms, state authorities have blocked access to Snapchat and placed curbs on Apple's FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Block

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor alleged that both applications were employed to plan and execute terrorist acts inside Russia, to enlist people and commit fraud along with other offenses targeting Russian citizens.

Roskomnadzor reported it enforced the restriction on Snapchat on October 10, even though the decision was only reported on Thursday.

Wider Campaign of Online Restrictions

These latest moves follow comparable blocks imposed on key apps like YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. This wave of bans began in earnest following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have undertaken systematic and multi-pronged strategies to rein in the open internet. Actions have involved:

• Adopting restrictive laws.
• Blocking online services that refuse to cooperate with local rules.
• Developing technology to track and influence digital communications.

Other Instances of Blocks

Access to YouTube was slowed in the past in an incident described as intentional slowing by regulators. Authorities attributed the issue to YouTube's owner, Google for not properly maintaining its servers in Russia.

In recent months, officials tightened online access with broad shutdowns of cellphone internet connections. The government claimed this was needed to thwart drone strikes, but analysts contended another step to tighten control over the digital landscape.

Action Against Messaging Platforms

Authorities has also acted against popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were restricted in this year. Furthermore, officials prohibited voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the measure by claiming the two apps were being used for criminal activities.

Simultaneously, the state have actively promoted a so-called "national" communication platform called Max. Observers view it as a possible tool for oversight. The service admits it will hand over data with the government if demanded, and experts note it is not equipped with full encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Commentary

As explained by cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law classifies any service where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This label mandates that such services establish a presence with Roskomnadzor and provide the FSB with entry to user data. Platforms that fail to comply are breaking the law and may be banned.

Seleznev noted that possibly a large number of Russians had been turning to FaceTime, especially after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the blocking of the Apple service as "expected" and cautioned that further services refusing to comply with authorities "are likely to be blocked – that's obvious."

Entertainment Sites Too Targeted

In a related move, the authorities reported it was blocking Roblox, citing child protection from harmful content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular game platform in Russia recently, with nearly eight million players.

Although it remains possible to bypass certain of these limitations by employing virtual private network services, those are frequently targeted by authorities as well.