Russian Authorities Blocks Snapchat and Cracks Down on Apple's FaceTime, State Media Announce

Amid a sustained crackdown to increase oversight over internet access, Russian regulators have cut off access to the social media app Snapchat and placed curbs on Apple's video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Restrictions

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor alleged that both applications were being used to plan and execute terrorist acts within the country, to recruit perpetrators and engage in fraudulent activities and other crimes aimed at the populace.

Officials said it initiated the block against Snapchat in early October, although the announcement was publicly disclosed more recently.

Broader Campaign of Online Restrictions

These latest moves are part of similar limitations imposed on popular services including YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. These measures of censorship escalated following the onset of the conflict of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have engaged in systematic and multi-pronged efforts to curtail the open internet. Measures have included:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Outlawing digital platforms that refuse to cooperate with Russian regulations.
• Perfecting technical capabilities to monitor and manipulate online traffic.

Other Instances of Restrictions

Access to the YouTube platform was slowed previously in what experts called deliberate throttling by the authorities. Russian officials attributed the issue to YouTube's owner, Google for allegedly neglecting its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, officials further restricted connectivity with broad disruptions of cellular data connections. The government claimed this was required to prevent drone strikes, but experts saw it as an additional move to tighten control over the internet.

Targeting Communication Apps

The government has also targeted widely-used communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were blocked in this year. This year, officials prohibited voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, defending the measure by claiming the platforms were being facilitating illegal activities.

Simultaneously, authorities have championed a dubbed "national" messenger app called Max. Observers view it as a possible tool for oversight. The app explicitly states it will hand over data with the government when asked, and analysts note it is not equipped with end-to-end encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Analysis

As explained by lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework classifies any service where people can communicate as an "information dissemination organizer".

This designation mandates that such services have an account with Roskomnadzor and provide the FSB with entry to communications. Platforms that fail to comply are non-compliant and may be banned.

Seleznev estimated that perhaps tens of millions of users in Russia had been relying on FaceTime, particularly after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the restrictions against the service as "expected" and warned that other sites failing to cooperate with authorities "face blocking – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Platforms Also Targeted

In a related action, the authorities reported it was banning the online game platform Roblox, citing child protection from inappropriate material. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second-largest gaming site in Russia recently, with nearly eight million players.

While it remains possible to circumvent some of these blocks by utilizing VPN services, those are also often blocked by authorities as well.