🔗 Share this article

As part of a continued effort to tighten control over digital platforms, Russian authorities have cut off access to the social media app Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple video calling service, FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Ban

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor alleged that the two apps were being used to facilitate and carry out terrorist acts inside Russia, to enlist people and commit fraud and other crimes aimed at the populace.

The regulator reported it initiated the block against Snapchat in early October, even though the announcement was only made public later.

Wider Context of Internet Control

These latest moves are part of comparable restrictions targeting popular services like Google's YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. This wave of bans began in earnest after the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have engaged in deliberate and wide-ranging efforts to rein in the internet. Actions have involved:

• Adopting tough new laws.
• Banning websites and platforms that refuse to cooperate with Russian regulations.
• Advancing systems to monitor and manipulate online traffic.

Other Examples of Crackdowns

Service for YouTube was slowed last year in an incident described as intentional slowing by the authorities. Russian officials pointed the finger at YouTube's owner, Google for allegedly neglecting its hardware in Russia.

Recently, authorities further restricted online access with widespread outages of mobile internet connections. Officials insisted this was required to thwart Ukrainian drone attacks, but experts argued a further measure to assert dominance over the digital landscape.

Targeting Communication Apps

Regulators has also targeted widely-used messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in 2024. Additionally, authorities outlawed voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the action by stating the two apps were being used for illegal activities.

Simultaneously, authorities have heavily pushed a so-called "domestic" messenger app called "Max". Experts view it as a potential surveillance tool. The service admits it will provide user information with authorities when asked, and analysts note it does not use end-to-end encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

Per lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law views any platform where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This classification requires that such services have an account with the regulator and allow state security with entry to user accounts. Platforms that fail to meet these demands are in violation and face blocking.

Seleznev pointed out that potentially tens of millions of Russians had been using FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on other messaging apps. He called the restrictions against the Apple service as "predictable" and stated that other sites failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "face blocking – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Platforms Too Affected

As another action, the authorities announced it was banning the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at safeguarding minors from inappropriate material. Per data from research group Mediascope, Roblox was the number two gaming site in Russia in October, with nearly 8 million players.

While it is still possible to bypass certain of these blocks by employing virtual private network services, VPNs themselves are also often blocked by authorities as well.