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Amid a ongoing effort to increase oversight over online communications, state officials have cut off access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on the Apple FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Ban

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor claimed that both applications were employed to organize and conduct acts of terrorism on Russian soil, to enlist people and engage in fraudulent activities along with other offenses aimed at the populace.

Roskomnadzor said it took action on Snapchat back on the 10th of October, although the announcement was publicly disclosed on Thursday.

Wider Campaign of Online Restrictions

This recent action are part of previous blocks imposed on key apps including YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. The campaign of censorship intensified following the onset of the conflict of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have pursued systematic and wide-ranging efforts to rein in the digital space. This has included:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Blocking digital platforms that do not comply with local rules.
• Developing technology to observe and control internet traffic.

Recent Instances of Crackdowns

Access to the YouTube platform was slowed previously in a case of deliberate throttling by officials. The Kremlin pointed the finger at YouTube's owner, Google for not properly maintaining its servers in Russia.

This summer, authorities further restricted internet access with extensive shutdowns of mobile internet connections. The government claimed this was necessary to prevent drone strikes, but critics argued an additional move to assert dominance over the digital landscape.

Targeting Communication Apps

The government has also acted against popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in 2024. Furthermore, authorities banned calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the action by saying the platforms were being used for illegal activities.

At the same time, authorities have actively promoted a dubbed "national" messenger app called Max. Experts view it as a possible surveillance tool. The app explicitly states it will hand over data with officials if demanded, and experts note it is not equipped with full encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Commentary

Per lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law views any service where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This label obligates that platforms establish a presence with the regulator and provide Russia's security service with the ability to monitor user data. Services failing to do so are breaking the law and may be banned.

Seleznev pointed out that perhaps many millions of users in Russia had been relying on FaceTime, particularly after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the blocking of the Apple service as "expected" and cautioned that other sites refusing to comply with Roskomnadzor "face blocking – it is inevitable."

Gaming Sites Too Targeted

In a separate development, the authorities also said it was banning the online game platform Roblox, stating the reason was child protection from harmful content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second most popular gaming site in Russia recently, with approximately eight million active users.

While it remains feasible to circumvent some of these blocks by utilizing VPN services, those are frequently targeted by authorities as well.