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Amid a continued campaign to exert greater control over digital platforms, state authorities have blocked access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Block

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor alleged that these services were being used to organize and conduct acts of terrorism inside Russia, to enlist people and commit fraud along with other offenses targeting Russian citizens.

Roskomnadzor said it took action on Snapchat on October 10, even though the decision was only reported later.

Wider Campaign of Online Restrictions

These latest moves follow similar limitations against popular services such as YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. This wave of bans escalated after the onset of the conflict of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have engaged in calculated and comprehensive initiatives to rein in the digital space. Actions have involved:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Banning websites and platforms that refuse to cooperate with local rules.
• Perfecting systems to monitor and manipulate online traffic.

Recent Examples of Restrictions

Access to 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 online access with extensive shutdowns of mobile internet connections. Officials insisted this was needed to thwart drone strikes, but experts saw it as an additional move to increase control over the internet.

Action Against Communication Apps

The government has also acted against popular communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were restricted in 2024. This year, authorities prohibited calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the action by stating the services were being facilitating criminal activities.

At the same time, authorities have championed a dubbed "national" communication platform called Max. Critics view it as a possible surveillance tool. The platform admits it will hand over data with authorities when asked, and experts note it is not equipped with end-to-end encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

According to cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework classifies any platform where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This label mandates that platforms have an account with the regulator and provide the FSB with entry to user accounts. Platforms that fail to comply are non-compliant and may be banned.

Seleznev estimated that potentially many millions of users in Russia had been using FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the restrictions against the service as "expected" and cautioned that other platforms failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "will be blocked – that is clear."

Entertainment Platforms Too Targeted

As another development, the government reported it was restricting Roblox, claiming it aimed at safeguarding minors from inappropriate material. Per data from research group Mediascope, the platform was the second-largest gaming site in Russia last month, with nearly 8 million players.

Although it remains feasible to get around a few of these limitations by using virtual private network services, such tools are also often blocked by the regulator as well.