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In a sustained crackdown to exert greater control over digital platforms, state authorities have restricted access to the social media app Snapchat and enacted limitations on Apple's video calling service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Block

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor stated that these services were being used to facilitate and carry out terrorist acts on Russian soil, to enlist people and commit fraud as well as various crimes aimed at the populace.

The regulator said it took action on Snapchat back on the 10th of October, though the decision was publicly disclosed on Thursday.

Broader Campaign of Digital Crackdown

These new restrictions come after previous restrictions imposed on popular services such as YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. This wave of restrictions intensified in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, the government have pursued deliberate and comprehensive initiatives to rein in the digital space. Measures have included:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Blocking websites and platforms that refuse to cooperate with local rules.
• Developing systems to monitor and manipulate internet traffic.

Other Instances of Blocks

Access to YouTube was disrupted in the past in what experts called deliberate throttling by the authorities. The Kremlin blamed Google for not properly maintaining its hardware in Russia.

In recent months, authorities further restricted connectivity with broad disruptions of cellular data connections. Officials claimed this was required to prevent drone strikes, but experts argued another step to assert dominance over the internet.

Targeting Messaging Apps

The government has also moved against popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were restricted in this year. Additionally, officials outlawed calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, justifying the action by stating the platforms were being involved in crime.

Simultaneously, authorities have championed a so-called "national" communication platform called Max. Critics see it as a possible monitoring instrument. The service admits it will provide user information with officials if demanded, and experts note it lacks end-to-end encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Commentary

As explained by lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law views any platform where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This classification mandates that platforms have an account with Roskomnadzor and provide Russia's security service with entry to communications. Platforms that fail to meet these demands are in violation and may be banned.

Seleznev pointed out that perhaps many millions of Russians had been using FaceTime, particularly after restrictions were placed on other messaging apps. He called the blocking of the service as "expected" and cautioned that other sites refusing to comply with Roskomnadzor "will be blocked – that's obvious."

Gaming Sites Too Targeted

In a separate move, the authorities also said it was banning Roblox, stating the reason was child protection from harmful content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular game platform in Russia recently, with nearly 8 million active users.

Although it remains possible to bypass certain of these restrictions by utilizing VPN services, those are routinely blocked by the regulator as well.