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In a sustained crackdown to increase oversight over online communications, state regulators have restricted access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on Apple's video calling service, FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Block

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor alleged that these services were being used to plan and execute terrorist activities on Russian soil, to enlist people and engage in fraudulent activities along with other offenses aimed at the populace.

Officials reported it initiated the block on Snapchat on October 10, although the announcement was publicly disclosed later.

Wider Campaign of Online Restrictions

This recent action follow previous restrictions against major platforms like YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. The campaign of censorship began in earnest after the 2022 military action of Ukraine by Russia.

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

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Banning digital platforms that refuse to cooperate with state demands.
• Advancing technology to monitor and manipulate online traffic.

Other Examples of Crackdowns

Service for YouTube was slowed previously in what experts called deliberate throttling by officials. The Kremlin pointed the finger at Google for allegedly neglecting its servers in Russia.

Recently, authorities limited connectivity with broad outages of cellular data connections. Officials stated this was required to prevent drone strikes, but analysts contended a further measure to increase control over the internet.

Action Against Communication Platforms

The government has also targeted widely-used communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were blocked in recently. This year, authorities banned calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the ban by claiming the two apps were being facilitating crime.

At the same time, the state have actively promoted a so-called "national" messenger app called "Max". Experts view it as a possible tool for oversight. The platform explicitly states it will provide user information with officials if demanded, and experts note it is not equipped with full encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Analysis

Per cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations classifies any service where people can communicate as an "information dissemination organizer".

This label requires that such services have an account with the regulator and grant the FSB with access to user data. Those failing to meet these demands are non-compliant and may be banned.

Seleznev noted that possibly tens of millions of Russians had been turning to FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the restrictions against the Apple service as "predictable" and cautioned that other platforms failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "face blocking – that's obvious."

Gaming Platforms Also Targeted

In a related move, the government also said it was banning the online game platform Roblox, citing child protection from illicit content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the number two gaming site in Russia in October, with close to eight million active users.

Although it is still feasible to get around a few of these blocks by utilizing VPN services, VPNs themselves are also often blocked by authorities as well.