🔗 Share this article

In a ongoing crackdown to tighten control over digital platforms, Russian authorities have cut off access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on the Apple video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Ban

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor alleged that the two apps were employed to organize and conduct terrorist acts on Russian soil, to enlist people and carry out fraud as well as various crimes targeting Russian citizens.

Roskomnadzor said it enforced the restriction targeting Snapchat in early October, even though the decision was only reported more recently.

Wider Context of Online Restrictions

These new restrictions come after previous restrictions against major platforms like Google's YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. This wave of censorship began in earnest in the wake of the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, authorities have engaged in systematic and multi-pronged initiatives to rein in the open internet. Measures have included:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Blocking digital platforms that do not comply with state demands.
• Perfecting systems to monitor and manipulate online traffic.

Other Examples of Crackdowns

Service for the YouTube platform was slowed in the past in an incident described as intentional slowing by officials. Russian officials blamed YouTube's owner, Google for allegedly neglecting its hardware in Russia.

Recently, officials further restricted online access with widespread disruptions of mobile internet connections. The government insisted this was necessary to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but analysts argued another step to assert dominance over the internet.

Action Against Communication Apps

The government has also acted against widely-used messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in recently. Furthermore, authorities banned voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, justifying the measure by saying the two apps were being facilitating criminal activities.

Concurrently, the state have heavily pushed a so-called "national" communication platform called "Max". Critics regard it as a possible surveillance tool. The service openly declares it will provide user information with the government upon request, and experts note it lacks strong encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

As explained by cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework views any platform where people can communicate as an "information dissemination organizer".

This designation obligates that such services establish a presence with the regulator and grant state security with the ability to monitor user data. Platforms that fail to do so are breaking the law and may be banned.

Seleznev estimated that possibly tens of millions of users in Russia had been using FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on other messaging apps. He called the blocking of the Apple service as "predictable" and stated that other sites that do not cooperate with authorities "will be blocked – that's obvious."

Gaming Sites Too Targeted

In a separate move, the government announced it was banning the online game platform Roblox, citing protecting children from inappropriate material. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular gaming site in Russia last month, with nearly eight million active users.

While it is still feasible to circumvent some of these restrictions by employing VPN services, VPNs themselves are frequently targeted by officials as well.