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As part of a sustained crackdown to increase oversight over online communications, Russian officials have cut off access to the social media app Snapchat and placed curbs on Apple's FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Restrictions

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor alleged that both applications were employed to plan and execute acts of terrorism on Russian soil, for recruiting individuals and engage in fraudulent activities along with other offenses against citizens.

Roskomnadzor said it enforced the restriction targeting Snapchat in early October, though the move was only reported more recently.

Broader Context of Internet Control

This recent action are part of similar limitations against key apps such as Google's YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. This wave of censorship intensified after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, authorities have undertaken calculated and multi-pronged strategies to control the open internet. Measures have included:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Banning digital platforms that do not comply with local rules.
• Advancing technical capabilities to monitor and manipulate internet traffic.

Recent Examples of Blocks

Access to YouTube was disrupted in the past in an incident described as targeted interference by officials. Authorities attributed the issue to Google for failing to maintain its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, authorities limited connectivity with widespread disruptions of cellular data connections. The government insisted this was needed to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but analysts contended an additional move to assert dominance over the internet.

Targeting Communication Platforms

Regulators has also targeted widely-used messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were blocked in recently. Furthermore, officials banned calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, justifying the measure by stating the services were being involved in criminal activities.

At the same time, the state have championed a dubbed "national" messenger app called Max. Critics view it as a possible tool for oversight. The service admits it will hand over data with officials if demanded, and analysts note it does not use full encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Analysis

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

This classification requires that such services establish a presence with Roskomnadzor and grant Russia's security service with the ability to monitor user accounts. Services failing to comply are breaking the law and face blocking.

Seleznev pointed out that potentially a large number of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the restrictions against the service as "expected" and warned that other sites that do not cooperate with authorities "are likely to be blocked – it is inevitable."

Gaming Sites Too Targeted

In a related development, the government also said it was restricting Roblox, claiming it aimed at protecting children from illicit content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second-largest game platform in Russia in October, with nearly eight million players.

While it remains possible to get around a few of these limitations by using VPN services, VPNs themselves are frequently targeted by the regulator as well.