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In a continued campaign to exert greater control over digital platforms, Russian regulators have restricted access to the social media app Snapchat and placed curbs on the Apple video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Ban

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor claimed that these services were being used to facilitate and carry out terrorist activities on Russian soil, for recruiting individuals and commit fraud and other crimes aimed at the populace.

The regulator reported it initiated the block targeting Snapchat back on the 10th of October, even though the announcement was only reported later.

Broader Campaign of Online Restrictions

These latest moves are part of previous limitations imposed on key apps like YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. The campaign of restrictions escalated after the onset of the conflict of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, authorities have engaged in calculated and multi-pronged efforts to rein in the open internet. Measures have included:

• Enacting stringent legislation.
• Banning online services that refuse to cooperate with state demands.
• Developing technical capabilities to track and influence digital communications.

Recent Instances of Blocks

Access to YouTube was throttled in the past in what experts called intentional slowing by officials. Authorities attributed the issue to Google for failing to maintain its hardware in Russia.

In recent months, authorities limited online access with broad shutdowns of cellular data connections. The government claimed this was needed to thwart Ukrainian drone attacks, but critics argued an additional move to tighten control over the internet.

Targeting Communication Apps

Regulators has also moved against widely-used communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in recently. Additionally, officials outlawed voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the action by stating the services were being involved in crime.

Simultaneously, authorities have heavily pushed a so-called "domestic" communication platform called Max. Critics view it as a potential tool for oversight. The platform admits it will share user data with officials upon request, and analysts note it lacks full encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Commentary

Per cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations classifies any platform where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This classification requires that platforms establish a presence with Roskomnadzor and grant Russia's security service with entry to user data. Those failing to do so are non-compliant and can get blocked.

Seleznev estimated that possibly many millions of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, particularly after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the restrictions against the Apple service as "predictable" and cautioned that other platforms refusing to comply with authorities "face blocking – that's obvious."

Gaming Platforms Too Affected

As another action, the government reported it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at child protection from illicit content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second most popular gaming site in Russia last month, with approximately eight million monthly users.

Although it is still possible to get around a few of these limitations by employing virtual private network services, VPNs themselves are routinely blocked by the regulator as well.