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Amid a ongoing crackdown to increase oversight over online communications, Russian regulators have blocked access to the social media app Snapchat and placed curbs on the Apple FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Ban

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor alleged that the two apps were utilized to plan and execute acts of terrorism inside Russia, to recruit perpetrators and carry out fraud as well as various crimes targeting Russian citizens.

The regulator stated it initiated the block on Snapchat back on the 10th of October, even though the move was only made public later.

Wider Context of Online Restrictions

This recent action follow previous restrictions imposed on popular services including YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. The campaign of restrictions intensified in the wake of the onset of the conflict of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, the government have undertaken calculated and wide-ranging strategies to control the digital space. Actions have involved:

• Adopting stringent legislation.
• Blocking digital platforms that fail to comply with state demands.
• Perfecting technical capabilities to track and influence internet traffic.

Other Examples of Restrictions

Access to the YouTube platform was slowed last year in a case of intentional slowing by the authorities. Russian officials attributed the issue to YouTube's owner, Google for allegedly neglecting its hardware in Russia.

Recently, officials further restricted internet access with widespread shutdowns of cellular data connections. Officials insisted this was necessary to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks, but experts contended another step to increase control over the internet.

Targeting Communication Platforms

The government has also acted against popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in recently. Furthermore, officials banned calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, defending the measure by claiming the platforms were being facilitating criminal activities.

At the same time, the state have heavily pushed a dubbed "national" communication platform called "Max". Experts regard it as a possible tool for oversight. The app openly declares it will provide user information with officials if demanded, and analysts note it is not equipped with full encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Commentary

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

This classification obligates that such services establish a presence with the regulator and grant state security with the ability to monitor user data. Those failing to comply are breaking the law and face blocking.

Seleznev noted that possibly many millions of Russians had been using FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on other messaging apps. He called the restrictions against the service as "expected" and cautioned that further services failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "will be blocked – that is clear."

Entertainment Platforms Too Targeted

As another action, the authorities announced it was blocking Roblox, stating the reason was protecting children from inappropriate material. According to research group Mediascope, Roblox was the second-largest game platform in Russia in October, with nearly eight million players.

While it is still possible to get around a few of these restrictions by employing VPN services, those are also often blocked by officials as well.