Russian Authorities Blocks Snapchat and Cracks Down on Apple's FaceTime, Officials Say

Amid a ongoing crackdown to increase oversight over internet access, state regulators have blocked access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on Apple's FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Restrictions

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor claimed that these services were employed to plan and execute terrorist activities on Russian soil, to enlist people and carry out fraud and other crimes aimed at the populace.

The regulator stated it enforced the restriction targeting Snapchat in early October, though the decision was publicly disclosed later.

Broader Context of Online Restrictions

These new restrictions come after similar restrictions targeting popular services like YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. This wave of bans escalated after the onset of the conflict of Ukraine.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have pursued systematic and comprehensive strategies to rein in the digital space. Actions have involved:

• Passing tough new laws.
• Outlawing websites and platforms that refuse to cooperate with local rules.
• Advancing systems to monitor and manipulate digital communications.

Recent Instances of Crackdowns

Service for the YouTube platform was slowed in the past in a case of targeted interference by officials. Russian officials pointed the finger at Google for failing to maintain its infrastructure in Russia.

This summer, authorities limited internet access with broad outages of mobile internet connections. The government claimed this was needed to thwart Ukrainian drone attacks, but analysts contended a further measure to increase control over the internet.

Action Against Communication Apps

Authorities has also moved against popular messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were restricted in recently. Furthermore, authorities prohibited voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the action by saying the platforms were being used for criminal activities.

At the same time, authorities have heavily pushed a dubbed "domestic" communication platform called Max. Observers regard it as a potential monitoring instrument. The service admits it will share user data with officials when asked, and analysts note it is not equipped with full encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Commentary

According to cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations views any service where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This label requires that platforms establish a presence with the regulator and grant state security with entry to communications. Platforms that fail to meet these demands are breaking the law and can get blocked.

Seleznev pointed out that possibly tens of millions of users in Russia had been turning to FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the blocking of the Apple service as "predictable" and warned that other platforms refusing to comply with authorities "face blocking – that is clear."

Gaming Sites Also Targeted

As another move, the authorities also said it was banning the online game platform Roblox, stating the reason was child protection from harmful content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular game platform in Russia last month, with close to eight million active users.

While it is still possible to bypass certain of these blocks by employing VPN services, those are also often blocked by authorities as well.