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Amid a sustained campaign to increase oversight over digital platforms, state officials have blocked access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on the Apple FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Ban

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor claimed that both applications were being used to organize and conduct terrorist acts within the country, to recruit perpetrators and carry out fraud along with other offenses against citizens.

Officials reported it initiated the block on Snapchat back on the 10th of October, although the decision was publicly disclosed later.

Broader Campaign of Online Restrictions

These latest moves are part of previous restrictions targeting key apps like Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. This wave of censorship intensified following the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, authorities have pursued deliberate and multi-pronged initiatives to control the internet. Actions have involved:

• Passing stringent legislation.
• Outlawing websites and platforms that fail to comply with Russian regulations.
• Developing systems to observe and control digital communications.

Other Examples of Crackdowns

Service for YouTube was slowed last year in what experts called targeted interference by the authorities. The Kremlin blamed Google for allegedly neglecting its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, authorities tightened online access with broad disruptions of cellular data connections. Officials stated this was needed to counter drone strikes, but analysts argued an additional move to increase control over the digital landscape.

Targeting Communication Apps

Regulators has also moved against widely-used messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were restricted in 2024. Furthermore, authorities prohibited voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, justifying the ban by stating the services were being used for illegal activities.

Simultaneously, the state have championed a so-called "domestic" messenger app called Max. Critics see it as a possible tool for oversight. The platform explicitly states it will share user data with the government when asked, and analysts note it lacks end-to-end encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Commentary

As explained by lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations classifies any platform where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This label mandates that platforms have an account with Roskomnadzor and allow the FSB with entry to user data. Services failing to meet these demands are breaking the law and can get blocked.

Seleznev pointed out that perhaps tens of millions of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, especially after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the restrictions against the Apple service as "expected" and cautioned that further services that do not cooperate with Roskomnadzor "are likely to be blocked – that's obvious."

Gaming Sites Too Affected

As another action, the government also said it was restricting Roblox, stating the reason was child protection from illicit content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular game platform in Russia last month, with close to 8 million active users.

Although it is still feasible to bypass certain of these limitations by using VPN services, those are frequently targeted by officials as well.