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Amid a continued crackdown to exert greater control over digital platforms, Russian authorities have cut off access to the social media app Snapchat and imposed restrictions on the Apple video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Block

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor stated that both applications were employed to plan and execute terrorist activities on Russian soil, to recruit perpetrators and engage in fraudulent activities along with other offenses against citizens.

Roskomnadzor said it initiated the block on Snapchat back on the 10th of October, although the move was publicly disclosed on Thursday.

Wider Context of Online Restrictions

These latest moves come after similar blocks targeting key apps including Google's YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. This wave of censorship intensified after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, the government have pursued calculated and wide-ranging efforts to curtail the digital space. Measures have included:

• Enacting tough new laws.
• Blocking websites and platforms that refuse to cooperate with local rules.
• Developing systems to observe and control internet traffic.

Other Instances of Blocks

Access to YouTube was slowed in the past in an incident described as targeted interference by the authorities. Russian officials blamed Google for allegedly neglecting its hardware in Russia.

Recently, officials further restricted internet access with broad outages of cellular data connections. Officials stated this was necessary to prevent drone strikes, but experts saw it as a further measure to assert dominance over the internet.

Action Against Messaging Platforms

The government has also targeted popular communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in this year. Furthermore, authorities prohibited calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, explaining the action by claiming the services were being used for criminal activities.

At the same time, the state have actively promoted a dubbed "national" communication platform called Max. Experts see it as a potential monitoring instrument. The service openly declares it will provide user information with authorities upon request, and analysts note it lacks full encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Analysis

As explained by lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations classifies any service where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This label requires that platforms establish a presence with Roskomnadzor and allow the FSB with access to user accounts. Platforms that fail to meet these demands are breaking the law and may be banned.

Seleznev noted that perhaps a large number of Russians had been turning to FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on other messaging apps. He described the restrictions against the service as "expected" and warned that other platforms refusing to comply with authorities "will be blocked – that is clear."

Entertainment Platforms Also Affected

As another move, the government reported it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, citing safeguarding minors from inappropriate material. According to research group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular gaming site in Russia recently, with nearly 8 million players.

Although it is still feasible to circumvent some of these blocks by employing virtual private network services, those are frequently targeted by officials as well.