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Amid a sustained effort to increase oversight over internet access, state authorities have cut off access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple video calling service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Block

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor claimed that both applications were utilized to facilitate and carry out terrorist acts inside Russia, to enlist people and engage in fraudulent activities and other crimes aimed at the populace.

Roskomnadzor reported it initiated the block against Snapchat back on the 10th of October, though the announcement was publicly disclosed more recently.

Wider Context of Internet Control

These latest moves follow comparable limitations against key apps such as YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. The campaign of bans escalated in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, the government have pursued calculated and wide-ranging efforts to rein in the open internet. This has included:

• Passing stringent legislation.
• Banning digital platforms that fail to comply with state demands.
• Perfecting systems to track and influence online traffic.

Recent Instances of Restrictions

Service for YouTube was disrupted previously in what experts called deliberate throttling by officials. The Kremlin attributed the issue to Google for failing to maintain its servers in Russia.

In recent months, authorities limited online access with extensive shutdowns of cellphone internet connections. The government insisted this was needed to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but experts saw it as a further measure to increase control over the internet.

Action Against Messaging Platforms

Regulators has also acted against popular messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were banned in recently. This year, authorities banned calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, defending the action by saying the two apps were being involved in illegal activities.

Concurrently, the state have actively promoted a so-called "national" communication platform called Max. Observers view it as a possible surveillance tool. The app admits it will provide user information with authorities upon request, and experts note it is not equipped with end-to-end encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

According to lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law defines any platform where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This classification requires that platforms register with Roskomnadzor and provide the FSB with the ability to monitor user data. Platforms that fail to comply are breaking the law and may be banned.

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

Gaming Platforms Also Affected

As another development, the government also said it was banning Roblox, claiming it aimed at safeguarding minors from illicit content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second-largest game platform in Russia recently, with approximately 8 million players.

While it remains feasible to circumvent some of these restrictions by utilizing VPN services, those are frequently targeted by the regulator as well.