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In a ongoing campaign to tighten control over internet access, Russian authorities have restricted access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Restrictions

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor alleged that the two apps were utilized to plan and execute acts of terrorism on Russian soil, to recruit perpetrators and carry out fraud along with other offenses aimed at the populace.

The regulator stated it took action against Snapchat on October 10, though the move was publicly disclosed on Thursday.

Wider Campaign of Internet Control

These latest moves are part of comparable restrictions against major platforms such as YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. The campaign of restrictions began in earnest in the wake of the 2022 military action of Ukraine by Russia.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, authorities have pursued calculated and wide-ranging efforts to rein in the digital space. This has included:

• Enacting stringent legislation.
• Banning digital platforms that do not comply with state demands.
• Developing technical capabilities to track and influence internet traffic.

Other Instances of Blocks

Service for the YouTube platform was throttled last year in an incident described as deliberate throttling by officials. Authorities blamed YouTube's owner, Google for failing to maintain its hardware in Russia.

This summer, authorities further restricted internet access with widespread disruptions of cellular data connections. The government claimed this was required to counter drone strikes, but analysts saw it as an additional move to assert dominance over the internet.

Action Against Communication Platforms

Authorities has also targeted widely-used messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in 2024. Furthermore, authorities outlawed voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, defending the measure by claiming the services were being facilitating crime.

Simultaneously, authorities have heavily pushed a so-called "national" communication platform called "Max". Experts see it as a possible tool for oversight. The app explicitly states it will share user data with officials if demanded, and analysts note it does not use end-to-end encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

Per lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework defines any service where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This classification requires that platforms establish a presence with Roskomnadzor and grant state security with the ability to monitor user accounts. Services failing to do so are non-compliant and may be banned.

Seleznev estimated that potentially a large number of users in Russia had been relying on FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on other messaging apps. He described the restrictions against the Apple service as "expected" and warned that other sites failing to cooperate with authorities "will be blocked – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Platforms Too Affected

As another move, the government reported it was restricting Roblox, claiming it aimed at protecting children from inappropriate material. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular gaming site in Russia last month, with nearly 8 million players.

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