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Amid a continued campaign to increase oversight over digital platforms, Russian regulators have cut off access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on the Apple video calling service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Restrictions

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor claimed that the two apps were utilized to facilitate and carry out terrorist acts inside Russia, for recruiting individuals and carry out fraud as well as various crimes targeting Russian citizens.

Officials reported it took action on Snapchat back on the 10th of October, although the announcement was publicly disclosed on Thursday.

Wider Campaign of Online Restrictions

These latest moves come after previous blocks against major platforms like Google's YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. These measures of censorship began in earnest following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, authorities have undertaken deliberate and wide-ranging efforts to control the open internet. This has included:

• Passing stringent legislation.
• Blocking digital platforms that fail to comply with state demands.
• Developing systems to track and influence online traffic.

Recent Instances of Blocks

Access to the YouTube platform was disrupted in the past in an incident described as intentional slowing by regulators. The Kremlin blamed Google for failing to maintain its servers in Russia.

In recent months, officials tightened connectivity with broad shutdowns of mobile internet connections. Officials stated this was needed to counter drone strikes, but experts contended a further measure to tighten control over the internet.

Targeting Communication Apps

Regulators has also targeted popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in recently. This year, officials outlawed calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, justifying the measure by stating the two apps were being involved in crime.

Concurrently, authorities have heavily pushed a dubbed "domestic" messenger app called Max. Observers see it as a potential surveillance tool. The service admits it will hand over data with the government when asked, and analysts note it is not equipped with strong encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

As explained by lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework defines any service where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This classification requires that such services establish a presence with the regulator and grant Russia's security service with access to user accounts. Platforms that fail to meet these demands are breaking the law and can get blocked.

Seleznev pointed out that perhaps tens of millions of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, particularly after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the restrictions against the Apple service as "expected" and stated that other platforms failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "will be blocked – it is inevitable."

Gaming Sites Also Affected

In a related action, the authorities also said it was banning the online game platform Roblox, stating the reason was protecting children from inappropriate material. Per data from research group Mediascope, the platform was the number two gaming site in Russia in October, with close to eight million monthly users.

While it is still feasible to circumvent some of these blocks by utilizing virtual private network services, VPNs themselves are routinely blocked by authorities as well.