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In a sustained campaign to exert greater control over internet access, Russian authorities have cut off access to Snapchat and placed curbs on Apple's video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Restrictions

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor stated that the two apps were being used to plan and execute acts of terrorism inside Russia, to enlist people and commit fraud as well as various crimes against citizens.

The regulator stated it took action targeting Snapchat on October 10, though the decision was publicly disclosed more recently.

Broader Campaign of Internet Control

This recent action follow comparable limitations against key apps such as Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. This wave of restrictions began in earnest in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, authorities have pursued calculated and multi-pronged efforts to curtail the internet. Measures have included:

• Adopting tough new laws.
• Blocking websites and platforms that refuse to cooperate with state demands.
• Advancing systems to observe and control internet traffic.

Other Instances of Restrictions

Access to the YouTube platform was disrupted in the past in what experts called targeted interference by regulators. Authorities blamed Google for not properly maintaining its hardware in Russia.

In recent months, officials tightened online access with broad shutdowns of cellphone internet connections. Officials insisted this was required to counter drone strikes, but critics contended another step to assert dominance over the internet.

Targeting Messaging Apps

Authorities has also acted against popular communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were blocked in 2024. Furthermore, authorities prohibited voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, explaining the ban by saying the two apps were being facilitating crime.

Concurrently, authorities have heavily pushed a so-called "national" communication platform called "Max". Experts view it as a potential surveillance tool. The platform admits it will hand over data with officials if demanded, and experts note it is not equipped with full encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

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

This label requires that platforms have an account with Roskomnadzor and grant Russia's security service with the ability to monitor communications. Platforms that fail to meet these demands are breaking the law and may be banned.

Seleznev estimated that possibly a large number of Russians had been using FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on other messaging apps. He called the blocking of the service as "expected" and cautioned that other platforms refusing to comply with authorities "face blocking – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Sites Also Targeted

As another action, the government reported it was banning the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at safeguarding minors from inappropriate material. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the number two game platform in Russia last month, with nearly 8 million monthly users.

Although it remains feasible to circumvent some of these restrictions by utilizing VPN services, VPNs themselves are frequently targeted by officials as well.