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In a continued effort to increase oversight over digital platforms, state officials have cut off access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Restrictions

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor stated that these services were employed to facilitate and carry out 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 enforced the restriction against Snapchat on October 10, though the move was only reported more recently.

Broader Context of Digital Crackdown

These latest moves follow similar restrictions imposed on major platforms including YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. The campaign of bans began in earnest in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have pursued calculated and comprehensive strategies to curtail the digital space. Measures have included:

• Adopting tough new laws.
• Banning digital platforms that fail to comply with Russian regulations.
• Developing systems to track and influence internet traffic.

Recent Examples of Crackdowns

Service for YouTube was disrupted in the past in what experts called intentional slowing by officials. The Kremlin blamed Google for failing to maintain its infrastructure in Russia.

In recent months, officials further restricted connectivity with widespread outages of mobile internet connections. Officials claimed this was required to thwart drone strikes, but critics contended another step to tighten control over the internet.

Targeting Messaging Apps

The government has also moved against widely-used messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were banned in 2024. Furthermore, officials outlawed calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, defending the measure by saying the platforms were being involved in illegal activities.

Concurrently, authorities have actively promoted a so-called "domestic" messenger app called Max. Observers see it as a possible surveillance tool. The platform openly declares it will share user data with the government when asked, and analysts note it lacks full encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Analysis

As explained by cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations classifies any service where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This designation obligates that such services establish a presence with the regulator and provide state security with the ability to monitor user data. Services failing to meet these demands are non-compliant and may be banned.

Seleznev estimated that possibly tens of millions of users in Russia had been using FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the restrictions against the Apple service as "expected" and stated that further services refusing to comply with Roskomnadzor "will be blocked – that is clear."

Entertainment Sites Also Targeted

As another action, the government also said it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at child protection from inappropriate material. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular gaming site in Russia recently, with nearly 8 million players.

Although it is still possible to get around a few of these restrictions by employing virtual private network services, VPNs themselves are also often blocked by officials as well.