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Amid a ongoing effort to exert greater control over online communications, state authorities have blocked access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Block

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor claimed that the two apps were being used to organize and conduct terrorist acts on Russian soil, to enlist people and engage in fraudulent activities and other crimes aimed at the populace.

Roskomnadzor stated it initiated the block targeting Snapchat on October 10, even though the move was only made public later.

Broader Campaign of Online Restrictions

This recent action are part of comparable restrictions imposed on popular services like YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. The campaign of restrictions escalated following the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have pursued calculated and comprehensive initiatives to curtail the internet. Measures have included:

• Passing stringent legislation.
• Banning online services that do not comply with local rules.
• Perfecting technical capabilities to track and influence digital communications.

Other Instances of Blocks

Access to YouTube was slowed in the past in a case of targeted interference by the authorities. Authorities pointed the finger at YouTube's owner, Google for not properly maintaining its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, officials limited online access with extensive disruptions of mobile internet connections. Officials claimed this was needed to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but critics argued another step to tighten control over the digital landscape.

Targeting Communication Apps

Regulators has also moved against widely-used messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in recently. Additionally, authorities outlawed calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the measure by stating the services were being facilitating illegal activities.

At the same time, authorities have heavily pushed a dubbed "national" communication platform called "Max". Observers regard it as a possible tool for oversight. The platform explicitly states it will hand over data with the government upon request, and experts note it lacks full encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Analysis

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

This label requires that such services have an account with Roskomnadzor and allow Russia's security service with access to communications. Platforms that fail to meet these demands are breaking the law and can get blocked.

Seleznev noted that potentially a large number of users in Russia had been relying on FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the blocking of the service as "predictable" and stated that other sites failing to cooperate with authorities "are likely to be blocked – it is inevitable."

Gaming Platforms Also Affected

In a related development, the government also said it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at child protection from illicit content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the number two game platform in Russia last month, with close to 8 million active users.

While it remains feasible to circumvent some of these restrictions by employing virtual private network services, those are also often blocked by authorities as well.