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Amid a ongoing effort to increase oversight over online communications, Russian authorities have restricted access to the social media app Snapchat and imposed restrictions on Apple's video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Ban

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor alleged that these services were utilized to facilitate and carry out terrorist acts on Russian soil, to recruit perpetrators and engage in fraudulent activities as well as various crimes aimed at the populace.

Roskomnadzor said it initiated the block against Snapchat back on the 10th of October, though the decision was only made public later.

Wider Campaign of Internet Control

This recent action come after comparable restrictions targeting popular services like Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. The campaign of bans began in earnest after the onset of the conflict of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, the government have pursued deliberate and wide-ranging efforts to rein in the digital space. Actions have involved:

• Adopting restrictive laws.
• Outlawing digital platforms that fail to comply with Russian regulations.
• Perfecting technical capabilities to observe and control digital communications.

Other Instances of Restrictions

Access to the YouTube platform was slowed last year in a case of deliberate throttling by regulators. Russian officials pointed the finger at Google for allegedly neglecting its hardware in Russia.

This summer, authorities tightened connectivity with widespread disruptions of mobile internet connections. The government claimed this was needed to thwart drone strikes, but critics argued another step to tighten control over the internet.

Action Against Messaging Apps

Authorities has also acted against widely-used communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were blocked in recently. This year, authorities outlawed calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the action by stating the platforms were being used for criminal activities.

Simultaneously, authorities have actively promoted a so-called "national" communication platform called Max. Experts view it as a possible monitoring instrument. The app admits it will provide user information with authorities when asked, and analysts note it is not equipped with end-to-end encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

Per cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law classifies any service where people can communicate as an "information dissemination organizer".

This designation mandates that platforms establish a presence with Roskomnadzor and grant state security with the ability to monitor user data. Services failing to do so are in violation and can get blocked.

Seleznev noted that possibly a large number of users in Russia had been turning to FaceTime, particularly after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the blocking of the Apple service as "expected" and stated that other platforms that do not cooperate with Roskomnadzor "face blocking – that is clear."

Entertainment Platforms Too Affected

In a related move, the authorities announced it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, stating the reason was protecting children from inappropriate material. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second-largest game platform in Russia recently, with close to 8 million players.

While it remains feasible to circumvent some of these restrictions by using VPN services, such tools are frequently targeted by the regulator as well.