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Amid a continued crackdown to increase oversight over digital platforms, state officials have restricted access to Snapchat and placed curbs on the Apple video calling service, FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Restrictions

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor stated that these services were utilized to plan and execute terrorist acts inside Russia, for recruiting individuals and commit fraud along with other offenses aimed at the populace.

Officials reported it took action against Snapchat on October 10, although the move was only made public more recently.

Broader Campaign of Digital Crackdown

This recent action are part of previous restrictions targeting popular services like YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. These measures of restrictions began in earnest after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, the government have pursued calculated and multi-pronged efforts to curtail the internet. Measures have included:

• Adopting tough new laws.
• Blocking websites and platforms that do not comply with state demands.
• Advancing technology to monitor and manipulate online traffic.

Recent Examples of Blocks

Service for the YouTube platform was slowed in the past in an incident described as deliberate throttling by regulators. Russian officials attributed the issue to Google for allegedly neglecting its servers in Russia.

This summer, officials further restricted internet access with extensive shutdowns of mobile internet connections. Officials insisted this was needed to counter drone strikes, but critics argued an additional move to increase control over the digital landscape.

Action Against Messaging Platforms

The government has also moved against popular communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in this year. Additionally, officials prohibited voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, defending the measure by saying the platforms were being involved in crime.

Simultaneously, the state have heavily pushed a dubbed "national" communication platform called "Max". Critics see it as a possible surveillance tool. The service openly declares it will share user data with authorities when asked, and analysts note it lacks full encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Commentary

According to cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations views any platform where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This label requires that such services establish a presence with the regulator and provide state security with the ability to monitor user data. Services failing to comply are breaking the law and may be banned.

Seleznev pointed out that potentially tens of millions of Russians had been using FaceTime, especially after voice calls were prohibited on other messaging apps. He called the blocking of the Apple service as "predictable" and warned that other sites refusing to comply with authorities "are likely to be blocked – it is inevitable."

Gaming Platforms Too Targeted

In a related action, the government announced it was restricting the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at child protection from harmful content. Per data from research group Mediascope, the platform was the second-largest gaming site in Russia last month, with nearly 8 million players.

While it is still possible to get around a few of these limitations by using virtual private network services, such tools are frequently targeted by the regulator as well.