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As part of a ongoing campaign to increase oversight over internet access, state authorities have cut off access to the social media app Snapchat and enacted limitations on Apple's video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Ban

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor claimed that these services were utilized to facilitate and carry out terrorist activities on Russian soil, to enlist people and engage in fraudulent activities and other crimes targeting Russian citizens.

Roskomnadzor said it enforced the restriction against Snapchat in early October, even though the move was only reported on Thursday.

Wider Context of Internet Control

This recent action follow previous blocks targeting major platforms such as Google's YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. These measures of restrictions escalated after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have pursued systematic and wide-ranging efforts to control the digital space. Measures have included:

• Enacting tough new laws.
• Banning digital platforms that fail to comply with local rules.
• Advancing technical capabilities to observe and control online traffic.

Recent Instances of Restrictions

Access to YouTube was slowed last year in what experts called intentional slowing by the authorities. Authorities pointed the finger at YouTube's owner, Google for failing to maintain its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, officials tightened online access with broad disruptions of cellular data connections. Officials claimed this was necessary to thwart Ukrainian drone attacks, but analysts contended an additional move to increase control over the digital landscape.

Action Against Communication Apps

Authorities has also targeted popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were banned in recently. This year, officials prohibited voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, explaining the measure by claiming the platforms were being used for crime.

Simultaneously, the state have championed a so-called "national" messenger app called Max. Observers see it as a possible surveillance tool. The service admits it will provide user information with the government when asked, and experts note it is not equipped with full encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

Per lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework defines any platform where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This designation mandates that such services establish a presence with the regulator and provide Russia's security service with entry to user data. Services failing to comply are in violation and face blocking.

Seleznev noted that potentially a large number of Russians had been using FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the restrictions against the Apple service as "predictable" and warned that further services failing to cooperate with authorities "face blocking – that's obvious."

Entertainment Sites Also Affected

As another action, the authorities reported it was banning Roblox, claiming it aimed at safeguarding minors from inappropriate material. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second most popular gaming site in Russia recently, with approximately 8 million players.

Although it remains feasible to circumvent some of these limitations by utilizing VPN services, those are also often blocked by officials as well.