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In a continued campaign to exert greater control over online communications, state authorities have blocked access to the social media app Snapchat and enacted limitations on Apple's FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Block

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor stated that both applications were being used to organize and conduct acts of terrorism on Russian soil, to recruit perpetrators and carry out fraud along with other offenses targeting Russian citizens.

The regulator reported it initiated the block targeting Snapchat on October 10, though the announcement was publicly disclosed more recently.

Wider Context of Internet Control

These latest moves are part of previous blocks imposed on major platforms like YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. This wave of censorship began in earnest following the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, the government have pursued calculated and comprehensive strategies to rein in the digital space. This has included:

• Adopting restrictive laws.
• Outlawing websites and platforms that fail to comply with state demands.
• Advancing systems to track and influence online traffic.

Recent Instances of Blocks

Access to YouTube was throttled previously in an incident described as targeted interference by regulators. The Kremlin blamed Google for allegedly neglecting its hardware in Russia.

Recently, officials limited online access with extensive shutdowns of cellphone internet connections. The government claimed this was necessary to prevent drone strikes, but analysts saw it as another step to tighten control over the internet.

Action Against Communication Platforms

Authorities has also moved against widely-used communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in this year. This year, authorities prohibited voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the measure by claiming the platforms were being facilitating criminal activities.

At the same time, authorities have championed a dubbed "national" communication platform called Max. Observers see it as a possible monitoring instrument. The service openly declares it will provide user information with officials if demanded, and analysts note it does not use end-to-end encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Commentary

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

This designation obligates that such services establish a presence with the regulator and grant state security with entry to communications. Those failing to do so are non-compliant and face blocking.

Seleznev estimated that potentially a large number of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the restrictions against the Apple service as "expected" and cautioned that other platforms refusing to comply with Roskomnadzor "are likely to be blocked – that is clear."

Entertainment Sites Too Targeted

As another action, the authorities also said it was blocking Roblox, claiming it aimed at safeguarding minors from illicit content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second-largest game platform in Russia last month, with approximately 8 million monthly users.

While it remains feasible to circumvent some of these blocks by employing VPN services, such tools are also often blocked by officials as well.