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In a sustained effort to exert greater control over internet access, state authorities have restricted access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on the Apple FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Ban

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor claimed that these services were utilized to organize and conduct acts of terrorism inside Russia, to recruit perpetrators and carry out fraud and other crimes aimed at the populace.

The regulator stated it initiated the block against Snapchat back on the 10th of October, though the announcement was publicly disclosed on Thursday.

Broader Campaign of Internet Control

This recent action come after similar blocks imposed on major platforms like YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. The campaign of bans began in earnest in the wake of the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, authorities have undertaken calculated and multi-pronged initiatives to curtail the open internet. This has included:

• Passing stringent legislation.
• Blocking digital platforms that do not comply with Russian regulations.
• Advancing technical capabilities to observe and control digital communications.

Recent Instances of Crackdowns

Service for the YouTube platform was throttled in the past in what experts called targeted interference by officials. Russian officials pointed the finger at Google for allegedly neglecting its servers in Russia.

Recently, officials tightened connectivity with widespread disruptions of cellular data connections. The government claimed this was needed to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks, but critics argued a further measure to increase control over the digital landscape.

Targeting Messaging Platforms

Authorities has also acted against popular messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were blocked in 2024. This year, officials banned calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, justifying the ban by stating the two apps were being used for crime.

Simultaneously, authorities have championed a so-called "national" messenger app called Max. Observers see it as a potential monitoring instrument. The app admits it will share user data with officials if demanded, and analysts note it is not equipped with full encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Commentary

According to lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations classifies any platform where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This designation requires that such services register with Roskomnadzor and grant state security with access to user accounts. Services failing to meet these demands are non-compliant and face blocking.

Seleznev pointed out that potentially a large number of Russians had been using FaceTime, especially after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the blocking of the Apple service as "predictable" and cautioned that other platforms failing to cooperate with authorities "face blocking – that's obvious."

Entertainment Sites Too Affected

As another move, the government reported it was restricting the online game platform Roblox, citing protecting children from inappropriate material. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second most popular game platform in Russia recently, with approximately eight million active users.

While it remains feasible to circumvent some of these limitations by using virtual private network services, VPNs themselves are frequently targeted by officials as well.