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As part of a ongoing campaign to tighten control over online communications, Russian officials have cut off access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Restrictions

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor stated that these services were utilized to plan and execute terrorist activities inside Russia, to enlist people and engage in fraudulent activities and other crimes aimed at the populace.

Officials said it enforced the restriction targeting Snapchat in early October, although the decision was only reported more recently.

Wider Context of Internet Control

This recent action follow previous limitations imposed on major platforms including Google's YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. This wave of restrictions escalated in the wake of the onset of the conflict of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have undertaken systematic and multi-pronged strategies to curtail the internet. Measures have included:

• Passing stringent legislation.
• Banning websites and platforms that do not comply with state demands.
• Developing systems to track and influence online traffic.

Recent Instances of Blocks

Access to the YouTube platform was throttled previously in a case of intentional slowing by the authorities. Russian officials blamed YouTube's owner, Google for not properly maintaining its servers in Russia.

In recent months, authorities limited connectivity with extensive shutdowns of cellphone internet connections. Officials claimed this was needed to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks, but critics contended an additional move to increase control over the digital landscape.

Action Against Communication Apps

The government has also moved against popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in recently. This year, officials outlawed voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, defending the measure by claiming the two apps were being involved in criminal activities.

Concurrently, authorities have actively promoted a dubbed "national" communication platform called "Max". Experts view it as a potential monitoring instrument. The app explicitly states it will provide user information with authorities when asked, and experts note it is not equipped with full encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Commentary

As explained by lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations defines any service where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This designation obligates that platforms register with the regulator and grant state security with access to user accounts. Services failing to meet these demands are non-compliant and may be banned.

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

Gaming Platforms Too Affected

In a related action, the authorities also said it was restricting the online game platform Roblox, citing child protection from inappropriate material. According to research group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular gaming site in Russia in October, with close to eight million active users.

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