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In a continued crackdown to increase oversight over online communications, Russian officials have blocked access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on the Apple video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Block

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor claimed that these services were being used to plan and execute terrorist acts within the country, for recruiting individuals and commit fraud and other crimes targeting Russian citizens.

The regulator reported it initiated the block against Snapchat in early October, though the announcement was only reported on Thursday.

Broader Context of Internet Control

These new restrictions follow similar restrictions imposed on major platforms including Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. The campaign of censorship began in earnest in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, authorities have engaged in deliberate and comprehensive strategies to rein in the open internet. Actions have involved:

• Adopting stringent legislation.
• Blocking digital platforms that do not comply with state demands.
• Advancing technical capabilities to track and influence digital communications.

Other Instances of Blocks

Access to YouTube was slowed in the past in an incident described as deliberate throttling by the authorities. Russian officials pointed the finger at YouTube's owner, Google for allegedly neglecting its infrastructure in Russia.

In recent months, authorities limited online access with broad disruptions of mobile internet connections. The government insisted this was necessary to counter drone strikes, but critics contended an additional move to assert dominance over the digital landscape.

Targeting Communication Apps

Authorities has also moved against popular communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were blocked in this year. Additionally, authorities banned voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, defending the measure by claiming the services were being used for criminal activities.

Simultaneously, the state have championed a so-called "national" messenger app called "Max". Experts see it as a possible monitoring instrument. The app explicitly states it will provide user information with authorities upon request, and analysts note it does not use end-to-end encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

As explained by lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law views any service where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This classification requires that platforms register with Roskomnadzor and provide the FSB with the ability to monitor communications. Services failing to do so are breaking the law and face blocking.

Seleznev estimated that perhaps many millions of Russians had been using FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the blocking of the service as "expected" and cautioned that other sites refusing to comply with authorities "face blocking – that's obvious."

Entertainment Platforms Also Targeted

As another move, the government reported it was banning Roblox, citing safeguarding minors from harmful content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the number two game platform in Russia recently, with nearly 8 million active users.

Although it remains possible to bypass certain of these blocks by using VPN services, VPNs themselves are frequently targeted by the regulator as well.