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Amid a sustained campaign to tighten control over digital platforms, Russian officials have blocked access to Snapchat and placed curbs on Apple's video calling service, FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Ban

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor stated that the two apps were being used to facilitate and carry out acts of terrorism on Russian soil, to recruit perpetrators and carry out fraud along with other offenses against citizens.

The regulator reported it took action on Snapchat on October 10, though the move was only reported more recently.

Wider Context of Online Restrictions

These new restrictions are part of previous blocks imposed on major platforms like YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. These measures of restrictions began in earnest in the wake of the onset of the conflict of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, authorities have pursued systematic and wide-ranging efforts to rein in the internet. This has included:

• Passing restrictive laws.
• Blocking websites and platforms that do not comply with state demands.
• Perfecting systems to track and influence internet traffic.

Recent Examples of Crackdowns

Service for the YouTube platform was slowed in the past in what experts called deliberate throttling by regulators. Authorities attributed the issue to YouTube's owner, Google for failing to maintain its servers in Russia.

Recently, officials limited connectivity with widespread disruptions of cellular data connections. Officials claimed this was necessary to thwart drone strikes, but analysts saw it as a further measure to tighten control over the digital landscape.

Action Against Messaging Apps

Authorities has also targeted popular communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were blocked in this year. Furthermore, authorities banned voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, explaining the ban by stating the platforms were being used for crime.

Concurrently, authorities have heavily pushed a dubbed "national" messenger app called Max. Observers view it as a potential surveillance tool. The service explicitly states it will provide user information with authorities upon request, and analysts note it lacks strong encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Analysis

As explained by lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations defines any platform where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This classification mandates that such services have an account with the regulator and allow the FSB with the ability to monitor user accounts. Services failing to comply are breaking the law and can get blocked.

Seleznev noted that potentially tens of millions of Russians had been turning to FaceTime, particularly after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the blocking of the service as "expected" and warned that other platforms refusing to comply with Roskomnadzor "are likely to be blocked – that's obvious."

Gaming Sites Too Affected

In a separate development, the government also said it was restricting Roblox, citing protecting children from illicit content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the number two gaming site in Russia recently, with close to eight million active users.

While it is still possible to get around a few of these blocks by using VPN services, those are frequently targeted by the regulator as well.