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In a continued effort to increase oversight over online communications, state officials have restricted access to the social media app Snapchat and placed curbs on Apple's video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Block

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor alleged that both applications were utilized to organize and conduct terrorist activities inside Russia, to enlist people and commit fraud as well as various crimes against citizens.

Officials reported it enforced the restriction targeting Snapchat on October 10, though the announcement was only made public more recently.

Wider Context of Internet Control

These latest moves are part of comparable limitations targeting key apps including YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. This wave of censorship escalated after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have pursued deliberate and comprehensive strategies to rein in the open internet. Measures have included:

• Passing restrictive laws.
• Banning digital platforms that do not comply with Russian regulations.
• Developing technical capabilities to track and influence digital communications.

Recent Examples of Crackdowns

Access to YouTube was throttled in the past in a case of targeted interference by officials. Authorities blamed YouTube's owner, Google for allegedly neglecting its hardware in Russia.

This summer, authorities limited online access with broad shutdowns of cellphone internet connections. The government insisted this was needed to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks, but critics contended an additional move to increase control over the internet.

Action Against Communication Apps

Regulators has also acted against widely-used messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were blocked in recently. Furthermore, authorities outlawed calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, explaining the ban by claiming the two apps were being facilitating crime.

Simultaneously, the state have actively promoted a so-called "domestic" communication platform called "Max". Observers regard it as a possible tool for oversight. The platform admits it will hand over data with the government when asked, and analysts note it is not equipped with end-to-end encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Commentary

According to cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law views any platform where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This label mandates that platforms register with the regulator and allow the FSB with entry to user data. Services failing to comply are breaking the law and face blocking.

Seleznev noted that potentially many millions of users in Russia had been relying on FaceTime, especially after voice calls were prohibited on other messaging apps. He described the restrictions against the service as "predictable" and stated that other platforms that do not cooperate with Roskomnadzor "face blocking – that's obvious."

Entertainment Platforms Too Targeted

As another development, the government also said it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at protecting children from harmful 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 feasible to bypass certain of these limitations by using VPN services, those are also often blocked by authorities as well.