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In a ongoing effort to increase oversight over internet access, state officials have blocked access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on the Apple video calling service, FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Ban

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

The regulator said it took action on Snapchat on October 10, although the decision was only reported later.

Broader Context of Digital Crackdown

These new restrictions come after previous blocks against major platforms such as YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. This wave of bans escalated after the onset of the conflict of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, authorities have pursued deliberate and comprehensive strategies to curtail the internet. Measures have included:

• Enacting tough new laws.
• Banning digital platforms that refuse to cooperate with local rules.
• Developing technology to monitor and manipulate online traffic.

Recent Examples of Crackdowns

Access to the YouTube platform was throttled last year in an incident described as targeted interference by officials. The Kremlin attributed the issue to YouTube's owner, Google for not properly maintaining its servers in Russia.

Recently, authorities limited internet access with broad shutdowns of mobile internet connections. The government claimed this was required to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but analysts saw it as a further measure to tighten control over the digital landscape.

Targeting Communication Platforms

Regulators has also targeted widely-used communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in this year. This year, officials prohibited calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, defending the ban by stating the services were being used for criminal activities.

Simultaneously, authorities have heavily pushed a so-called "national" communication platform called Max. Observers view it as a potential monitoring instrument. The service openly declares it will provide user information with officials if demanded, and experts note it does not use end-to-end encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

According to cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework views any service where people can communicate as an "information dissemination organizer".

This label requires that platforms establish a presence with Roskomnadzor and provide state security with the ability to monitor communications. Services failing to comply are breaking the law and may be banned.

Seleznev noted that possibly many millions of Russians had been using FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on other messaging apps. He called the blocking of the service as "predictable" and stated that other sites refusing to comply with Roskomnadzor "face blocking – that's obvious."

Gaming Sites Also Affected

In a related development, the authorities reported it was blocking Roblox, claiming it aimed at safeguarding minors from harmful content. Per data from research group Mediascope, the platform was the number two gaming site in Russia last month, with nearly 8 million monthly users.

Although it is still possible to get around a few of these limitations by using VPN services, VPNs themselves are also often blocked by authorities as well.