Russia Restricts Snapchat and Limits Apple's FaceTime, Regulators Say

In a continued effort to exert greater control over online communications, Russian officials have blocked access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on Apple's FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Ban

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor alleged that both applications were utilized to organize and conduct terrorist activities on Russian soil, to recruit perpetrators and engage in fraudulent activities as well as various crimes aimed at the populace.

The regulator reported it took action against Snapchat on October 10, even though the decision was only reported on Thursday.

Wider Campaign of Digital Crackdown

These new restrictions come after previous restrictions against key apps including Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. This wave of censorship intensified following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, the government have engaged in deliberate and comprehensive strategies to control the open internet. This has included:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Banning digital platforms that do not comply with local rules.
• Advancing technical capabilities to observe and control online traffic.

Other Examples of Restrictions

Access to YouTube was slowed previously in what experts called targeted interference by the authorities. The Kremlin blamed YouTube's owner, Google for not properly maintaining its hardware in Russia.

Recently, authorities tightened online access with widespread outages of cellular data connections. The government insisted this was required to thwart drone strikes, but experts saw it as an additional move to increase control over the digital landscape.

Targeting Communication Apps

Authorities has also targeted popular communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were blocked in this year. This year, officials prohibited calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, justifying the measure by claiming the platforms were being facilitating criminal activities.

Concurrently, the state have actively promoted a dubbed "national" messenger app called "Max". Observers see it as a potential tool for oversight. The app explicitly states it will share user data with the government if demanded, and experts note it does not use end-to-end encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Analysis

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

This designation mandates that platforms register with the regulator and provide state security with the ability to monitor communications. Those failing to meet these demands are in violation and may be banned.

Seleznev pointed out that potentially a large number of Russians had been turning to FaceTime, particularly after calls were banned on other messaging apps. He called the restrictions against the Apple service as "expected" and warned that other platforms refusing to comply with authorities "face blocking – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Sites Also Affected

As another move, the government announced it was banning the online game platform Roblox, citing safeguarding minors from harmful content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the number two game platform in Russia in October, with nearly eight million monthly users.

Although it remains feasible to circumvent some of these restrictions by utilizing VPN services, VPNs themselves are routinely blocked by the regulator as well.