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In a continued campaign to exert greater control over internet access, Russian officials have restricted access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on Apple's video calling service, FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Ban

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor stated that the two apps were employed to facilitate and carry out terrorist acts within the country, to enlist people and carry out fraud and other crimes aimed at the populace.

The regulator stated it took action targeting Snapchat in early October, although the announcement was publicly disclosed more recently.

Broader Context of Digital Crackdown

These latest moves are part of previous blocks imposed on major platforms including Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. The campaign of restrictions began in earnest after the 2022 military action of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, the government have pursued systematic and wide-ranging efforts to rein in the open internet. Measures have included:

• Enacting tough new laws.
• Blocking online services that refuse to cooperate with state demands.
• Developing systems to observe and control internet traffic.

Recent Instances of Restrictions

Access to the YouTube platform was throttled last year in what experts called targeted interference by regulators. The Kremlin pointed the finger at Google for allegedly neglecting its hardware in Russia.

This summer, authorities tightened online access with widespread shutdowns of cellphone internet connections. The government insisted this was necessary to thwart drone strikes, but experts argued a further measure to increase control over the internet.

Action Against Communication Apps

The government has also targeted widely-used communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were banned in 2024. Furthermore, authorities prohibited voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the ban by stating the services were being facilitating crime.

Simultaneously, the state have heavily pushed a dubbed "national" messenger app called Max. Observers view it as a possible surveillance tool. The service openly declares it will share user data with authorities if demanded, and experts note it does not use end-to-end encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Commentary

According to lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework classifies any platform where people can communicate as an "information dissemination organizer".

This designation requires that such services have an account with Roskomnadzor and grant state security with the ability to monitor user accounts. Platforms that fail to meet these demands are non-compliant and can get blocked.

Seleznev estimated that potentially a large number of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, especially after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the restrictions against the Apple service as "expected" and warned that other platforms that do not cooperate with authorities "will be blocked – that is clear."

Gaming Platforms Too Affected

In a related development, the government announced it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, stating the reason was safeguarding minors from inappropriate material. According to research group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular game platform in Russia in October, with nearly 8 million players.

While it is still possible to bypass certain of these blocks by utilizing virtual private network services, such tools are frequently targeted by the regulator as well.