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In a sustained effort to increase oversight over internet access, state officials have cut off access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on Apple's video calling service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Block

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor alleged that the two apps were utilized to facilitate and carry out terrorist acts on Russian soil, to recruit perpetrators and carry out fraud as well as various crimes aimed at the populace.

The regulator stated it initiated the block targeting Snapchat back on the 10th of October, although the announcement was publicly disclosed later.

Broader Context of Digital Crackdown

These latest moves are part of similar blocks targeting popular services such as Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. These measures of bans began in earnest following the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

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

• Adopting tough new laws.
• Banning websites and platforms that do not comply with Russian regulations.
• Perfecting technology to observe and control online traffic.

Recent Instances of Blocks

Access to YouTube was throttled previously in what experts called targeted interference by regulators. The Kremlin blamed YouTube's owner, Google for allegedly neglecting its hardware in Russia.

Recently, authorities tightened internet access with extensive outages of mobile internet connections. Officials stated this was necessary to counter drone strikes, but critics contended a further measure to assert dominance over the digital landscape.

Targeting Messaging Apps

Authorities has also targeted popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in this year. Additionally, authorities outlawed calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, explaining the ban by stating the platforms were being used for criminal activities.

Concurrently, the state have actively promoted a dubbed "national" communication platform called "Max". Critics view it as a possible surveillance tool. The app admits it will provide user information with authorities when asked, and analysts note it lacks strong encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Analysis

As explained by cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law defines any service where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This label mandates that platforms establish a presence with the regulator and grant the FSB with access to user data. Platforms that fail to do so are non-compliant and face blocking.

Seleznev pointed out that possibly many millions of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the restrictions against the Apple service as "expected" and stated that other platforms that do not cooperate with Roskomnadzor "are likely to be blocked – it is inevitable."

Gaming Sites Also Affected

As another action, the government announced it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, stating the reason was protecting children from harmful content. Per data from research group Mediascope, Roblox was the second most popular gaming site in Russia in October, with close to eight million active users.

While it is still feasible to circumvent some of these blocks by utilizing virtual private network services, VPNs themselves are routinely blocked by authorities as well.