Russia Restricts Snapchat and Cracks Down on Apple's FaceTime, Regulators Report

Amid a continued crackdown to tighten control over online communications, state authorities have blocked access to Snapchat and placed curbs on the Apple video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Block

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor claimed that the two apps were employed to facilitate and carry out terrorist acts inside Russia, to enlist people and carry out fraud along with other offenses targeting Russian citizens.

The regulator said it took action targeting Snapchat on October 10, even though the move was publicly disclosed on Thursday.

Broader Campaign of Internet Control

This recent action are part of similar restrictions against popular services including YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. This wave of restrictions began in earnest following the onset of the conflict of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, the government have pursued systematic and multi-pronged initiatives to curtail the open internet. Measures have included:

• Adopting tough new laws.
• Outlawing online services that fail to comply with local rules.
• Perfecting technology to track and influence digital communications.

Other Examples of Blocks

Access to the YouTube platform was slowed previously in what experts called targeted interference by regulators. Authorities blamed Google for not properly maintaining its servers in Russia.

In recent months, officials limited connectivity with widespread disruptions of cellphone internet connections. The government insisted this was needed to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but analysts saw it as another step to assert dominance over the digital landscape.

Targeting Communication Platforms

Authorities has also targeted popular communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in this year. This year, authorities banned calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, defending the measure by claiming the two apps were being facilitating crime.

Simultaneously, the state have actively promoted a dubbed "national" messenger app called "Max". Experts regard it as a potential surveillance tool. The service openly declares it will hand over data with authorities when asked, and analysts note it does not use strong encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Analysis

According to lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations defines any service where people can communicate as an "information dissemination organizer".

This label requires that such services establish a presence with Roskomnadzor and grant state security with the ability to monitor user data. Services failing to comply are in violation and can get blocked.

Seleznev noted that potentially tens of millions of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, especially after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the restrictions against the Apple service as "predictable" and warned that other sites failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "face blocking – that's obvious."

Gaming Sites Also Targeted

In a separate development, the authorities reported it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at child protection from inappropriate material. Per data from research group Mediascope, the platform was the number two game platform in Russia in October, with close to 8 million monthly users.

Although it is still possible to circumvent some of these blocks by employing virtual private network services, those are routinely blocked by the regulator as well.