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In a continued effort to exert greater control over digital platforms, state regulators have blocked access to the social media app Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Restrictions

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor claimed that these services were being used to plan and execute acts of terrorism on Russian soil, to enlist people and carry out fraud as well as various crimes against citizens.

Officials stated it took action targeting Snapchat in early October, even though the announcement was publicly disclosed more recently.

Broader Context of Internet Control

This recent action follow previous restrictions against major platforms such as Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. These measures of bans began in earnest in the wake of the onset of the conflict of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, the government have pursued deliberate and comprehensive initiatives to rein in the internet. Measures have included:

• Adopting restrictive laws.
• Banning online services that do not comply with local rules.
• Developing technical capabilities to monitor and manipulate digital communications.

Other Instances of Restrictions

Access to YouTube was throttled last year in what experts called intentional slowing by officials. The Kremlin pointed the finger at Google for not properly maintaining its hardware in Russia.

This summer, authorities limited connectivity with widespread shutdowns of cellular data connections. Officials stated this was needed to thwart drone strikes, but critics argued an additional move to assert dominance over the digital landscape.

Targeting Messaging Platforms

Authorities has also moved against popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were banned in this year. Additionally, officials prohibited calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, explaining the action by claiming the two apps were being involved in illegal activities.

Concurrently, authorities have championed a so-called "national" messenger app called Max. Critics view it as a potential surveillance tool. The platform openly declares it will hand over data with authorities upon request, and analysts note it does not use full encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Commentary

As explained by lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations views any platform where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This designation mandates that platforms register with the regulator and allow state security with entry to user data. Those failing to meet these demands are in violation and can get blocked.

Seleznev estimated that potentially many millions of users in Russia had been relying on FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on other messaging apps. He described the restrictions against the Apple service as "expected" and cautioned that other platforms refusing to comply with Roskomnadzor "are likely to be blocked – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Sites Also Affected

As another action, the authorities also said it was restricting the online game platform Roblox, stating the reason was protecting children from inappropriate material. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the number two game platform in Russia in October, with nearly eight million players.

Although it remains feasible to bypass certain of these limitations by employing VPN services, such tools are also often blocked by officials as well.