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

Stated Justifications for the Restrictions

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor alleged that these services were being used to plan and execute terrorist activities within the country, for recruiting individuals and engage in fraudulent activities and other crimes against citizens.

Roskomnadzor reported it initiated the block on Snapchat back on the 10th of October, although the announcement was only reported on Thursday.

Broader Context of Online Restrictions

These latest moves follow previous restrictions targeting popular services like Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. This wave of bans intensified in the wake of the onset of the conflict of Ukraine by Russia.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, authorities have pursued calculated and comprehensive initiatives to control the internet. Actions have involved:

• Passing restrictive laws.
• Banning digital platforms that fail to comply with state demands.
• Developing technical capabilities to observe and control internet traffic.

Recent Examples of Restrictions

Service for the YouTube platform was disrupted last year in what experts called deliberate throttling by regulators. Authorities blamed YouTube's owner, Google for failing to maintain its servers in Russia.

Recently, officials further restricted connectivity with extensive disruptions of cellular data connections. The government claimed this was required to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks, but critics argued an additional move to increase control over the internet.

Action Against Communication Platforms

Regulators has also acted against widely-used messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were restricted in recently. Furthermore, officials banned calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, defending the ban by claiming the services were being involved in criminal activities.

At the same time, the state have championed a dubbed "national" communication platform called Max. Critics regard it as a possible tool for oversight. The platform openly declares it will provide user information with officials upon request, and experts note it is not equipped with full encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Commentary

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

This designation mandates that such services register with Roskomnadzor and allow the FSB with entry to user data. Platforms that fail to do so are in violation and can get blocked.

Seleznev estimated that possibly a large number of users in Russia had been using FaceTime, particularly after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the blocking of the service as "expected" and cautioned that other sites failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "face blocking – that's obvious."

Gaming Sites Too Targeted

In a related development, the authorities announced it was banning the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at child protection from illicit content. According to research group Mediascope, Roblox was the number two gaming site in Russia last month, with approximately 8 million players.

While it is still possible to bypass certain of these limitations by utilizing virtual private network services, such tools are frequently targeted by officials as well.