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In a continued effort to tighten control over digital platforms, state authorities have blocked access to the social media app Snapchat and placed curbs on Apple's video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Ban

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor stated that both applications were utilized to organize and conduct acts of terrorism inside Russia, for recruiting individuals and carry out fraud and other crimes targeting Russian citizens.

The regulator reported it took action against Snapchat in early October, although the move was only reported on Thursday.

Broader Context of Internet Control

These new restrictions are part of similar blocks imposed on popular services like YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. The campaign of censorship began in earnest after the onset of the conflict of Ukraine.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, the government have engaged in calculated and multi-pronged efforts to rein in the open internet. This has included:

• Enacting stringent legislation.
• Outlawing websites and platforms that do not comply with local rules.
• Developing technology to observe and control internet traffic.

Other Examples of Blocks

Service for YouTube was disrupted in the past in what experts called intentional slowing by regulators. The Kremlin blamed Google for allegedly neglecting its servers in Russia.

This summer, authorities further restricted connectivity with broad disruptions of cellphone internet connections. The government insisted this was necessary to thwart Ukrainian drone attacks, but experts contended an additional move to assert dominance over the internet.

Action Against Messaging Platforms

Regulators has also moved against widely-used communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were blocked in recently. Furthermore, authorities outlawed voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, defending the ban by stating the services were being facilitating illegal activities.

Simultaneously, the state have heavily pushed a dubbed "domestic" communication platform called "Max". Observers regard it as a potential monitoring instrument. The platform openly declares it will share user data with authorities upon request, and analysts note it lacks full encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Analysis

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

This designation requires that such services establish a presence with the regulator and grant Russia's security service with entry to user accounts. Services failing to comply are in violation and can get blocked.

Seleznev estimated that possibly many millions of Russians had been using FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the blocking of the Apple service as "expected" and cautioned that other platforms failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "will be blocked – it is inevitable."

Gaming Sites Also Targeted

In a related development, the authorities also said it was restricting Roblox, citing child protection from illicit content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the number two game platform in Russia last month, with close to 8 million monthly users.

Although it remains possible to bypass certain of these limitations by using VPN services, those are frequently targeted by officials as well.