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In a ongoing crackdown to tighten control over digital platforms, Russian officials have restricted access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on Apple's FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Block

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor alleged that these services were utilized to plan and execute terrorist acts within the country, to recruit perpetrators and engage in fraudulent activities along with other offenses against citizens.

Roskomnadzor reported it initiated the block targeting Snapchat in early October, although the move was publicly disclosed on Thursday.

Broader Context of Online Restrictions

This recent action are part of similar blocks against key apps including YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. This wave of bans began in earnest after the onset of the conflict of Ukraine by Russia.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have undertaken calculated and wide-ranging efforts to curtail the internet. This has included:

• Adopting tough new laws.
• Outlawing websites and platforms that fail to comply with Russian regulations.
• Perfecting systems to monitor and manipulate online traffic.

Recent Examples of Blocks

Access to YouTube was slowed in the past in an incident described as deliberate throttling by regulators. The Kremlin attributed the issue to YouTube's owner, Google for failing to maintain its hardware in Russia.

Recently, authorities limited connectivity with extensive outages of cellphone internet connections. The government claimed this was needed to counter drone strikes, but analysts contended a further measure to increase control over the digital landscape.

Targeting Communication Platforms

Authorities has also moved against popular communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in 2024. Additionally, officials prohibited calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, defending the action by saying the services were being used for illegal activities.

Simultaneously, the state have actively promoted a so-called "national" messenger app called Max. Experts view it as a possible surveillance tool. The app admits it will provide user information with authorities when asked, and analysts note it is not equipped with full encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Commentary

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

This designation requires that such services register with the regulator and provide Russia's security service with entry to communications. Those failing to comply are breaking the law and may be banned.

Seleznev estimated that potentially a large number of Russians had been turning to FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on other messaging apps. He described the restrictions against the Apple service as "predictable" and stated that further services failing to cooperate with authorities "will be blocked – it is inevitable."

Gaming Platforms Also Targeted

In a related development, the authorities announced it was banning Roblox, stating the reason was safeguarding minors from harmful content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second-largest game platform in Russia recently, with nearly eight million monthly users.

Although it remains feasible to get around a few of these limitations by utilizing virtual private network services, VPNs themselves are also often blocked by officials as well.