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Amid a continued campaign to exert greater control over digital platforms, Russian authorities have blocked access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on the Apple video calling service, FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Ban

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor stated that the two apps were utilized to facilitate and carry out terrorist activities on Russian soil, for recruiting individuals and carry out fraud and other crimes aimed at the populace.

Roskomnadzor stated it took action targeting Snapchat back on the 10th of October, though the decision was only reported more recently.

Wider Context of Digital Crackdown

This recent action come after similar restrictions against major platforms such as Google's YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. This wave of restrictions began in earnest after the onset of the conflict of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have undertaken calculated and multi-pronged initiatives to curtail the digital space. Measures have included:

• Passing restrictive laws.
• Banning websites and platforms that refuse to cooperate with state demands.
• Developing technical capabilities to observe and control digital communications.

Recent Examples of Blocks

Service for YouTube was throttled last year in an incident described as intentional slowing by regulators. The Kremlin blamed Google for failing to maintain its servers in Russia.

In recent months, officials limited internet access with widespread outages of mobile internet connections. The government claimed this was necessary to thwart drone strikes, but critics argued an additional move to assert dominance over the digital landscape.

Action Against Communication Apps

Regulators has also targeted popular communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in this year. Additionally, authorities banned calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, justifying the ban by claiming the two apps were being facilitating illegal activities.

Simultaneously, the state have actively promoted a so-called "national" messenger app called "Max". Observers regard it as a possible surveillance tool. The app admits it will provide user information with authorities if demanded, and experts note it is not equipped with full encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Commentary

According to lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework views any service where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This classification requires that such services register with Roskomnadzor and allow state security with entry to user accounts. Platforms that fail to do so are in violation and may be banned.

Seleznev noted that potentially tens of millions of Russians had been using FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on other messaging apps. He described the blocking of the service as "predictable" and cautioned that other platforms refusing to comply with Roskomnadzor "will be blocked – that's obvious."

Gaming Platforms Also Targeted

As another action, the government announced it was restricting the online game platform Roblox, citing protecting children from illicit content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second-largest game platform in Russia recently, with nearly eight million players.

While it is still possible to circumvent some of these limitations by employing VPN services, VPNs themselves are frequently targeted by officials as well.