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In a ongoing crackdown to tighten control over digital platforms, Russian authorities have cut off access to the social media app Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Block

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor claimed that both applications were being used to plan and execute terrorist activities inside Russia, to recruit perpetrators and engage in fraudulent activities along with other offenses aimed at the populace.

Roskomnadzor said it initiated the block on Snapchat in early October, even though the announcement was only reported later.

Wider Campaign of Digital Crackdown

These latest moves are part of comparable restrictions imposed on popular services such as Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. These measures of bans intensified in the wake of the 2022 military action of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have engaged in systematic and comprehensive efforts to curtail the digital space. Measures have included:

• Enacting tough new laws.
• Banning websites and platforms that refuse to cooperate with local rules.
• Advancing systems to monitor and manipulate digital communications.

Recent Examples of Blocks

Service for YouTube was slowed in the past in what experts called deliberate throttling by the authorities. The Kremlin attributed the issue to Google for failing to maintain its hardware in Russia.

This summer, officials further restricted connectivity with widespread outages of mobile internet connections. Officials claimed this was needed to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks, but critics contended an additional move to increase control over the internet.

Targeting Messaging Platforms

The government has also moved against widely-used communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were blocked in recently. Additionally, officials banned calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the ban by stating the two apps were being used for crime.

At the same time, the state have actively promoted a dubbed "domestic" messenger app called "Max". Experts view it as a potential monitoring instrument. The platform openly declares it will hand over data with authorities upon request, and experts note it does not use end-to-end encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Analysis

As explained by cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations defines any platform where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This classification obligates that platforms have an account with the regulator and provide state security with entry to user accounts. Services failing to comply are breaking the law and face blocking.

Seleznev noted that perhaps a large number of Russians had been using FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the blocking of the Apple service as "expected" and warned that further services failing to cooperate with authorities "face blocking – that is clear."

Gaming Sites Too Targeted

As another move, the government announced it was banning the online game platform Roblox, citing protecting children from inappropriate material. According to research group Mediascope, Roblox was the second most popular gaming site in Russia recently, with approximately eight million monthly users.

While it remains possible to circumvent some of these blocks by using VPN services, such tools are frequently targeted by authorities as well.