🔗 Share this article

Amid a sustained effort to exert greater control over digital platforms, state regulators have cut off access to Snapchat and placed curbs on the Apple video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Restrictions

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor claimed that these services were utilized to plan and execute terrorist acts inside Russia, to recruit perpetrators and commit fraud and other crimes aimed at the populace.

The regulator stated it initiated the block targeting Snapchat in early October, although the decision was only reported later.

Wider Context of Digital Crackdown

This recent action follow similar blocks targeting key apps such as Google's YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. The campaign of bans intensified in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, the government have undertaken deliberate and multi-pronged initiatives to rein in the digital space. This has included:

• Adopting stringent legislation.
• Blocking digital platforms that fail to comply with Russian regulations.
• Advancing technical capabilities to observe and control digital communications.

Recent Instances of Crackdowns

Access to the YouTube platform was slowed previously in an incident described as intentional slowing by officials. Authorities blamed Google for allegedly neglecting its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, authorities further restricted internet access with broad outages of cellphone internet connections. Officials stated this was necessary to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks, but experts argued a further measure to tighten control over the digital landscape.

Targeting Messaging Apps

The government has also acted against widely-used communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were restricted in this year. This year, authorities prohibited calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the measure by stating the platforms were being involved in criminal activities.

Simultaneously, the state have heavily pushed a so-called "national" communication platform called "Max". Observers regard it as a possible tool for oversight. The platform openly declares it will share user data with authorities when asked, and experts note it is not equipped with strong encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Analyst Analysis

According to cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations views any platform where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This label obligates that such services establish a presence with Roskomnadzor and allow the FSB with the ability to monitor user data. Those failing to comply are non-compliant and face blocking.

Seleznev noted that perhaps a large number of users in Russia had been using FaceTime, particularly after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the restrictions against the service as "predictable" and warned that other platforms failing to cooperate with authorities "are likely to be blocked – that's obvious."

Entertainment Sites Too Targeted

In a related move, the authorities announced it was restricting Roblox, stating the reason was protecting children from illicit content. According to research group Mediascope, the platform was the second-largest gaming site in Russia last month, with close to 8 million active users.

Although it is still feasible to get around a few of these blocks by utilizing VPN services, VPNs themselves are frequently targeted by the regulator as well.