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Amid a continued crackdown to tighten control over internet access, state authorities have blocked access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on Apple's FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Block

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor claimed that both applications were being used to facilitate and carry out terrorist activities on Russian soil, to recruit perpetrators and commit fraud and other crimes aimed at the populace.

Roskomnadzor said it initiated the block targeting Snapchat in early October, even though the decision was only made public later.

Wider Context of Internet Control

This recent action come after comparable restrictions targeting key apps such as YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. These measures of censorship intensified in the wake of the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, authorities have undertaken deliberate and comprehensive strategies to curtail the open internet. Measures have included:

• Enacting stringent legislation.
• Blocking websites and platforms that refuse to cooperate with state demands.
• Developing technical capabilities to monitor and manipulate online traffic.

Other Instances of Crackdowns

Service for YouTube was throttled previously in an incident described as intentional slowing by officials. The Kremlin attributed the issue to Google for not properly maintaining its servers in Russia.

In recent months, authorities tightened internet access with extensive disruptions of mobile internet connections. Officials stated this was needed to thwart drone strikes, but critics argued a further measure to increase control over the internet.

Targeting Communication Platforms

The government has also moved against popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were restricted in recently. Furthermore, authorities outlawed voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, explaining the measure by claiming the services were being facilitating crime.

Simultaneously, the state have heavily pushed a dubbed "domestic" messenger app called "Max". Critics regard it as a possible surveillance tool. The platform admits it will share user data with the government upon request, and experts note it does not use full encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Commentary

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

This classification requires that platforms register with Roskomnadzor and provide Russia's security service with access to user accounts. Those failing to do so are non-compliant and may be banned.

Seleznev noted that potentially many millions of users in Russia had been using FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on other messaging apps. He described the blocking of the service as "predictable" and cautioned that other sites refusing to comply with authorities "will be blocked – that is clear."

Gaming Platforms Also Targeted

In a related move, the government announced it was restricting Roblox, citing child protection from illicit content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the number two game platform in Russia recently, with approximately eight million active users.

While it remains feasible to circumvent some of these restrictions by using VPN services, those are routinely blocked by officials as well.