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In a sustained crackdown to increase oversight over internet access, state officials have restricted access to the social media app Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Ban

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor claimed that these services were employed to facilitate and carry out acts of terrorism on Russian soil, to enlist people and carry out fraud as well as various crimes aimed at the populace.

Roskomnadzor stated it took action on Snapchat on October 10, even though the move was publicly disclosed later.

Broader Context of Online Restrictions

These new restrictions are part of previous blocks against major platforms such as Google's YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. These measures of restrictions intensified in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, authorities have pursued systematic and wide-ranging initiatives to curtail the internet. Actions have involved:

• Adopting restrictive laws.
• Blocking online services that do not comply with state demands.
• Advancing technology to monitor and manipulate online traffic.

Other Examples of Restrictions

Access to YouTube was disrupted previously in an incident described as deliberate throttling by the authorities. Authorities blamed YouTube's owner, Google for not properly maintaining its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, authorities further restricted connectivity with broad outages of cellular data connections. Officials stated this was needed to counter drone strikes, but analysts argued a further measure to tighten control over the internet.

Targeting Communication Platforms

Regulators has also moved against popular communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were blocked in recently. Additionally, authorities outlawed calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the action by claiming the two apps were being facilitating crime.

Concurrently, authorities have actively promoted a dubbed "domestic" messenger app called "Max". Critics see it as a possible tool for oversight. The service explicitly states it will share user data with the government if demanded, and analysts note it is not equipped with full encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Commentary

As explained by lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework classifies any platform where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This classification obligates that such services establish a presence with the regulator and allow Russia's security service with access to user accounts. Those failing to comply are in violation and may be banned.

Seleznev estimated that perhaps many millions of users in Russia had been using FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the blocking of the Apple service as "predictable" and warned that further services that do not cooperate with Roskomnadzor "are likely to be blocked – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Sites Also Affected

As another development, the government announced it was banning the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at protecting children from illicit content. According to research group Mediascope, the platform was the number two gaming site in Russia recently, with close to eight million active users.

Although it remains feasible to get around a few of these restrictions by utilizing virtual private network services, VPNs themselves are frequently targeted by officials as well.