🔗 Share this article

In a ongoing effort to tighten control over internet access, state officials have blocked access to the social media app Snapchat and enacted limitations on Apple's video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Block

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor claimed that these services were employed to organize and conduct terrorist acts on Russian soil, to recruit perpetrators and commit fraud and other crimes against citizens.

The regulator stated it took action on Snapchat in early October, although the announcement was only reported on Thursday.

Broader Campaign of Internet Control

This recent action come after previous limitations against major platforms including YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. The campaign of restrictions intensified in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, the government have undertaken systematic and comprehensive initiatives to curtail the digital space. Actions have involved:

• Adopting stringent legislation.
• Banning digital platforms that refuse to cooperate with local rules.
• Perfecting technical capabilities to observe and control online traffic.

Other Examples of Restrictions

Service for the YouTube platform was throttled previously in a case of deliberate throttling by regulators. Russian officials blamed YouTube's owner, Google for allegedly neglecting its servers in Russia.

In recent months, officials tightened internet access with extensive outages of mobile internet connections. Officials claimed this was needed to counter drone strikes, but experts argued an additional move to increase control over the internet.

Targeting Communication Platforms

Regulators has also targeted popular communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were banned in this year. Furthermore, authorities outlawed voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the ban by stating the platforms were being involved in illegal activities.

At the same time, authorities have championed a so-called "national" communication platform called "Max". Observers see it as a possible tool for oversight. The service explicitly states it will share user data with the government if demanded, and experts note it is not equipped with strong encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Commentary

Per lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework classifies any platform where people can communicate as an "information dissemination organizer".

This label requires that platforms have an account with the regulator and grant state security with the ability to monitor communications. Platforms that fail to meet these demands are in violation and face blocking.

Seleznev pointed out that potentially tens of millions of users in Russia had been relying on FaceTime, particularly after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the blocking of the service as "expected" and warned that further services refusing to comply with Roskomnadzor "will be blocked – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Platforms Also Affected

As another development, the authorities also said it was restricting the online game platform Roblox, citing protecting children from illicit content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second-largest game platform in Russia in October, with approximately eight million monthly users.

Although it remains feasible to bypass certain of these limitations by utilizing VPN services, VPNs themselves are also often blocked by officials as well.