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As part of a ongoing crackdown to increase oversight over digital platforms, state officials have restricted access to Snapchat and placed curbs on Apple's video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Block

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor claimed that both applications were utilized to organize and conduct acts of terrorism within the country, for recruiting individuals and carry out fraud along with other offenses aimed at the populace.

Officials said it initiated the block targeting Snapchat in early October, though the decision was publicly disclosed later.

Wider Campaign of Digital Crackdown

These new restrictions are part of previous limitations targeting major platforms including YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. The campaign of censorship began in earnest in the wake of the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, the government have undertaken calculated and wide-ranging initiatives to curtail the open internet. Measures have included:

• Passing stringent legislation.
• Outlawing digital platforms that fail to comply with local rules.
• Advancing systems to track and influence internet traffic.

Recent Instances of Crackdowns

Access to the YouTube platform was slowed previously in a case of intentional slowing by regulators. Russian officials pointed the finger at Google for allegedly neglecting its servers in Russia.

In recent months, authorities further restricted connectivity with extensive shutdowns of cellphone internet connections. Officials insisted this was required to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but experts saw it as a further measure to assert dominance over the digital landscape.

Targeting Messaging Platforms

The government has also targeted widely-used communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were restricted in recently. Furthermore, authorities prohibited calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, defending the measure by saying the two apps were being used for crime.

At the same time, the state have heavily pushed a so-called "national" communication platform called Max. Experts see it as a potential monitoring instrument. The service explicitly states it will hand over data with authorities when asked, and experts note it is not equipped with full encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Commentary

As explained by cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations classifies any platform where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This classification obligates that such services establish a presence with Roskomnadzor and provide Russia's security service with the ability to monitor user data. Platforms that fail to do so are breaking the law and can get blocked.

Seleznev noted that potentially tens of millions of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the restrictions against the service as "expected" and stated that further services that do not cooperate with authorities "are likely to be blocked – that is clear."

Gaming Sites Also Targeted

In a separate move, the authorities announced it was banning the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at protecting children from inappropriate material. According to research group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular game platform in Russia recently, with close to eight million monthly users.

While it is still feasible to circumvent some of these limitations by employing virtual private network services, such tools are frequently targeted by authorities as well.