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As part of a ongoing crackdown to increase oversight over digital platforms, state officials have blocked access to the social media app Snapchat and imposed restrictions on the Apple video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Restrictions

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor stated that both applications were being used to organize and conduct acts of terrorism inside Russia, to enlist people and commit fraud and other crimes aimed at the populace.

Roskomnadzor said it initiated the block against Snapchat in early October, even though the announcement was only made public on Thursday.

Wider Campaign of Digital Crackdown

These latest moves are part of previous limitations targeting major platforms like YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. The campaign of censorship began in earnest in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, authorities have engaged in deliberate and comprehensive strategies to curtail the open internet. Measures have included:

• Passing tough new laws.
• Banning online services that fail to comply with state demands.
• Developing technical capabilities to track and influence digital communications.

Recent Instances of Restrictions

Access to the YouTube platform was throttled last year in a case of targeted interference by officials. Authorities blamed YouTube's owner, Google for allegedly neglecting its infrastructure in Russia.

This summer, officials further restricted internet access with broad shutdowns of cellular data connections. The government stated this was needed to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks, but analysts argued another step to assert dominance over the internet.

Targeting Communication Platforms

Regulators has also acted against popular communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in this year. This year, authorities outlawed voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the action by claiming the services were being involved in illegal activities.

At the same time, the state have heavily pushed a so-called "domestic" communication platform called Max. Critics see it as a potential tool for oversight. The app explicitly states it will hand over data with officials when asked, and experts note it does not use full encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Analysis

As explained by cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework defines any service where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This designation requires that such services register with the regulator and allow state security with the ability to monitor user accounts. Services failing to do so are breaking the law and face blocking.

Seleznev noted that possibly tens of millions of users in Russia had been turning to FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the blocking of the service as "expected" and cautioned that other sites failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "face blocking – that's obvious."

Gaming Sites Also Targeted

In a separate move, the authorities reported it was blocking Roblox, citing protecting children from illicit content. According to research group Mediascope, the platform was the number two gaming site in Russia recently, with close to eight million monthly users.

Although it is still feasible to get around a few of these restrictions by employing virtual private network services, those are routinely blocked by officials as well.