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In a sustained effort to tighten control over digital platforms, state regulators have cut off access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on Apple's FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Block

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor claimed that these services were employed to facilitate and carry out terrorist acts inside Russia, to recruit perpetrators and engage in fraudulent activities and other crimes aimed at the populace.

The regulator reported it took action on Snapchat on October 10, although the move was only made public later.

Wider Context of Digital Crackdown

These latest moves follow previous restrictions targeting major platforms including YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. This wave of restrictions began in earnest in the wake of the 2022 military action of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have pursued systematic and wide-ranging efforts to curtail the open internet. This has included:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Outlawing online services that fail to comply with state demands.
• Developing technical capabilities to track and influence digital communications.

Other Examples of Blocks

Service for YouTube was disrupted in the past in a case of targeted interference by regulators. Authorities blamed Google for allegedly neglecting its infrastructure in Russia.

In recent months, officials limited online access with widespread outages of mobile internet connections. Officials claimed this was necessary to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but experts contended an additional move to increase control over the digital landscape.

Action Against Messaging Apps

Regulators has also moved against widely-used communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were blocked in 2024. This year, officials banned calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the measure by stating the two apps were being facilitating crime.

Concurrently, authorities have actively promoted a so-called "national" communication platform called "Max". Experts regard it as a possible tool for oversight. The service openly declares it will provide user information with authorities upon request, and experts note it lacks full encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Analysis

As explained by lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations views any platform where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This label obligates that platforms have an account with the regulator and allow Russia's security service with entry to user data. Services failing to comply are breaking the law and can get blocked.

Seleznev pointed out that possibly many millions of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the restrictions against the service as "expected" and stated that other platforms that do not cooperate with authorities "face blocking – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Sites Also Targeted

In a separate development, the authorities reported it was restricting the online game platform Roblox, citing child protection from inappropriate material. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second-largest gaming site in Russia last month, with approximately 8 million active users.

Although it remains feasible to circumvent some of these blocks by employing VPN services, VPNs themselves are frequently targeted by the regulator as well.