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As part of a sustained crackdown to increase oversight over digital platforms, state regulators have blocked access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on Apple's FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Restrictions

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor claimed that these services were employed to organize and conduct terrorist acts within the country, for recruiting individuals and commit fraud and other crimes aimed at the populace.

The regulator said it took action on Snapchat in early October, although the decision was publicly disclosed on Thursday.

Wider Campaign of Digital Crackdown

This recent action follow similar restrictions against key apps like YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. These measures of bans intensified after the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, authorities have undertaken deliberate and multi-pronged strategies to curtail the digital space. Measures have included:

• Adopting restrictive laws.
• Blocking websites and platforms that do not comply with Russian regulations.
• Perfecting technical capabilities to monitor and manipulate digital communications.

Recent Examples of Restrictions

Access to the YouTube platform was throttled in the past in an incident described as targeted interference by the authorities. The Kremlin attributed the issue to YouTube's owner, Google for allegedly neglecting its hardware in Russia.

This summer, officials further restricted internet access with widespread shutdowns of cellphone internet connections. The government claimed this was needed to counter drone strikes, but analysts saw it as a further measure to assert dominance over the digital landscape.

Action Against Communication Apps

Authorities has also targeted popular communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in recently. Additionally, officials banned calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the action by claiming the platforms were being used for illegal activities.

At the same time, the state have actively promoted a dubbed "domestic" communication platform called Max. Observers regard it as a possible monitoring instrument. The platform admits it will share user data with the government if demanded, and experts note it lacks end-to-end encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

Per lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law defines any platform where people can communicate as an "information dissemination organizer".

This label obligates that platforms have an account with the regulator and grant state security with entry to communications. Those failing to do so are non-compliant and face blocking.

Seleznev estimated that perhaps a large number of Russians had been turning to FaceTime, particularly after restrictions were placed on other messaging apps. He called the restrictions against the Apple service as "expected" and stated that further services failing to cooperate with authorities "face blocking – that is clear."

Gaming Platforms Also Affected

In a related action, the authorities also said it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, citing safeguarding minors from inappropriate material. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the number two game platform in Russia last month, with close to 8 million players.

While 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.