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Amid a sustained campaign to exert greater control over internet access, state regulators have blocked access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on Apple's FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Block

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor alleged that these services were employed to plan and execute terrorist activities on Russian soil, for recruiting individuals and commit fraud and other crimes aimed at the populace.

The regulator reported it initiated the block on Snapchat on October 10, even though the announcement was only made public more recently.

Wider Context of Online Restrictions

This recent action come after similar restrictions imposed on major platforms including Google's YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. These measures of restrictions began in earnest following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, authorities have pursued calculated and multi-pronged efforts to curtail the internet. Measures have included:

• Passing restrictive laws.
• Blocking websites and platforms that refuse to cooperate with Russian regulations.
• Perfecting systems to observe and control digital communications.

Recent Examples of Blocks

Service for the YouTube platform was disrupted previously in an incident described as deliberate throttling by officials. The Kremlin blamed Google for allegedly neglecting its servers in Russia.

In recent months, authorities limited online access with broad disruptions of mobile internet connections. Officials claimed this was required to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but analysts saw it as another step to tighten control over the digital landscape.

Targeting Messaging Platforms

Regulators has also acted against popular communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were blocked in 2024. This year, authorities banned calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, justifying the ban by stating the services were being involved in illegal activities.

Concurrently, authorities have actively promoted a so-called "domestic" communication platform called "Max". Observers regard it as a potential monitoring instrument. The service openly declares it will hand over data with officials upon request, and experts note it does not use full encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Commentary

As explained by lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law defines any platform where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This label mandates that platforms register with Roskomnadzor and provide Russia's security service with the ability to monitor communications. Services failing to do so are breaking the law and face blocking.

Seleznev pointed out that possibly tens of millions of users in Russia had been using FaceTime, especially after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the restrictions against the Apple service as "predictable" and stated that other platforms that do not cooperate with authorities "will be blocked – that's obvious."

Entertainment Platforms Too Targeted

In a separate move, the government reported it was banning the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at child protection from inappropriate material. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular game platform in Russia last month, with nearly eight million monthly users.

Although it remains possible to get around a few of these blocks by using VPN services, such tools are also often blocked by authorities as well.