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As part of a continued crackdown to exert greater control over internet access, Russian authorities have cut off access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on Apple's video calling service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Block

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor claimed that these services were employed to plan and execute acts of terrorism on Russian soil, to enlist people and carry out fraud as well as various crimes aimed at the populace.

The regulator stated it took action against Snapchat back on the 10th of October, although the decision was only made public later.

Wider Campaign of Internet Control

These new restrictions come after previous restrictions against key apps like YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. These measures of bans escalated in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, the government have pursued systematic and wide-ranging efforts to rein in the open internet. Measures have included:

• Adopting tough new laws.
• Outlawing websites and platforms that do not comply with state demands.
• Advancing technology to monitor and manipulate internet traffic.

Other Instances of Blocks

Access to YouTube was slowed previously in an incident described as intentional slowing by the authorities. Authorities blamed YouTube's owner, Google for not properly maintaining its servers in Russia.

Recently, authorities further restricted connectivity with extensive shutdowns of cellphone internet connections. Officials stated this was required to thwart Ukrainian drone attacks, but experts saw it as an additional move to increase control over the digital landscape.

Targeting Messaging Platforms

Regulators has also acted against widely-used communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in this year. Additionally, officials banned voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the action by saying the platforms were being involved in illegal activities.

At the same time, the state have championed a dubbed "domestic" communication platform called Max. Critics regard it as a potential tool for oversight. The service explicitly states it will provide user information with officials if demanded, and experts note it does not use full encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Analysis

According to cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations classifies any service where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This classification mandates that platforms register with the regulator and allow state security with the ability to monitor user data. Platforms that fail to do so are breaking the law and may be banned.

Seleznev pointed out that perhaps tens of millions of Russians had been using FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the blocking of the Apple service as "predictable" and cautioned that other platforms refusing to comply with Roskomnadzor "will be blocked – that's obvious."

Gaming Platforms Also Affected

As another action, the government announced it was restricting Roblox, citing child protection from illicit content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the number two gaming site in Russia last month, with nearly eight million active users.

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