🔗 Share this article

Amid a continued crackdown to tighten control over digital platforms, Russian authorities have restricted access to the social media app Snapchat and enacted limitations on Apple's video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Restrictions

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor stated that these services were being used to organize and conduct acts of terrorism on Russian soil, for recruiting individuals and commit fraud as well as various crimes targeting Russian citizens.

Roskomnadzor reported it initiated the block against Snapchat in early October, although the decision was publicly disclosed on Thursday.

Wider Context of Internet Control

These latest moves come after similar limitations against major platforms like Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. These measures of censorship began in earnest following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, the government have engaged in deliberate and multi-pronged efforts to rein in the digital space. This has included:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Outlawing digital platforms that fail to comply with state demands.
• Developing systems to monitor and manipulate internet traffic.

Recent Examples of Crackdowns

Service for YouTube was throttled previously in what experts called targeted interference by the authorities. Russian officials attributed the issue to YouTube's owner, Google for failing to maintain its hardware in Russia.

This summer, authorities tightened connectivity with broad shutdowns of mobile internet connections. The government claimed this was necessary to thwart Ukrainian drone attacks, but experts saw it as another step to assert dominance over the digital landscape.

Action Against Communication Platforms

Authorities has also targeted widely-used communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were banned in this year. Furthermore, authorities outlawed calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, defending the ban by saying the two apps were being used for illegal activities.

Simultaneously, the state have actively promoted a so-called "national" communication platform called "Max". Experts regard it as a potential monitoring instrument. The service admits it will share user data with the government upon request, and experts note it is not equipped with strong encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Analysis

According to cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework classifies any platform where people can communicate as an "information dissemination organizer".

This classification requires that such services register with the regulator and provide the FSB with the ability to monitor user accounts. Platforms that fail to do so are non-compliant and may be banned.

Seleznev pointed out that perhaps many millions of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, particularly after restrictions were placed on other messaging apps. He called the restrictions against the service as "expected" and stated that further services failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "will be blocked – that is clear."

Entertainment Sites Also Affected

As another development, the government reported it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, stating the reason was protecting children from illicit content. Per data from research group Mediascope, Roblox was the number two game platform in Russia recently, with approximately eight million active users.

While it remains feasible to circumvent some of these restrictions by utilizing virtual private network services, VPNs themselves are also often blocked by the regulator as well.