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Amid a sustained crackdown to exert greater control over digital platforms, state authorities have restricted access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Block

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor claimed that the two apps were employed to organize and conduct terrorist activities within the country, for recruiting individuals and engage in fraudulent activities and other crimes aimed at the populace.

Officials stated it initiated the block targeting Snapchat back on the 10th of October, although the decision was only reported on Thursday.

Broader Campaign of Online Restrictions

These latest moves come after comparable blocks targeting major platforms like YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. The campaign of censorship intensified after the onset of the conflict of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, the government have engaged in deliberate and wide-ranging strategies to curtail the digital space. Actions have involved:

• Passing restrictive laws.
• Banning websites and platforms that do not comply with Russian regulations.
• Perfecting systems to monitor and manipulate online traffic.

Recent Examples of Blocks

Access to YouTube was slowed last year in what experts called intentional slowing by regulators. Russian officials pointed the finger at YouTube's owner, Google for allegedly neglecting its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, officials further restricted internet access with extensive disruptions of cellular data connections. The government insisted this was needed to thwart Ukrainian drone attacks, but analysts contended an additional move to tighten control over the digital landscape.

Targeting Communication Platforms

Authorities has also targeted widely-used messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were blocked in recently. Additionally, authorities prohibited calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the ban by stating the platforms were being used for illegal activities.

Concurrently, authorities have actively promoted a dubbed "national" communication platform called "Max". Experts view it as a possible monitoring instrument. The service openly declares it will provide user information with the government upon request, and analysts note it does not use strong encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Analysis

Per cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations defines any platform where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This classification requires that platforms have an account with Roskomnadzor and allow Russia's security service with the ability to monitor user data. Services failing to comply are in violation and may be banned.

Seleznev noted that possibly a large number of users in Russia had been relying on FaceTime, particularly after calls were banned on other messaging apps. He called the blocking of the Apple service as "predictable" and cautioned that other sites failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "are likely to be blocked – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Sites Also Targeted

In a separate development, the government reported it was restricting the online game platform Roblox, stating the reason was safeguarding minors from inappropriate material. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular game platform in Russia in October, with close to 8 million monthly users.

While it is still possible to circumvent some of these blocks by employing virtual private network services, such tools are routinely blocked by authorities as well.