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Amid a continued effort to exert greater control over internet access, Russian officials have cut off access to the social media app Snapchat and enacted limitations on Apple's FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Restrictions

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor claimed that both applications were employed to plan and execute terrorist activities on Russian soil, to recruit perpetrators and carry out fraud along with other offenses aimed at the populace.

Officials reported it took action on Snapchat back on the 10th of October, although the move was only made public on Thursday.

Broader Context of Internet Control

These new restrictions are part of comparable restrictions targeting popular services like YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. This wave of restrictions intensified following the onset of the conflict of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have undertaken deliberate and comprehensive initiatives to curtail the open internet. Actions have involved:

• Passing stringent legislation.
• Blocking websites and platforms that do not comply with local rules.
• Developing systems to track and influence internet traffic.

Recent Instances of Blocks

Service for YouTube was throttled last year in a case of intentional slowing by officials. Authorities attributed the issue to Google for failing to maintain its servers in Russia.

Recently, authorities tightened online access with broad shutdowns of cellular data connections. The government stated this was required to counter drone strikes, but experts contended an additional move to assert dominance over the internet.

Targeting Communication Platforms

The government has also acted against widely-used messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were restricted in this year. Furthermore, authorities banned calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the action by claiming the platforms were being involved in illegal activities.

Simultaneously, the state have actively promoted a so-called "national" messenger app called "Max". Critics regard it as a potential monitoring instrument. The app openly declares it will share user data with officials when asked, and analysts note it lacks full encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Commentary

Per cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework defines any platform where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This designation mandates that such services have an account with the regulator and provide the FSB with access to user accounts. Platforms that fail to do so are breaking the law and can get blocked.

Seleznev pointed out that potentially a large number of users in Russia had been turning to FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on other messaging apps. He called the blocking of the Apple service as "expected" and cautioned that other platforms refusing to comply with Roskomnadzor "will be blocked – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Sites Too Targeted

In a related action, the authorities announced it was banning the online game platform Roblox, stating the reason was safeguarding minors from harmful content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second-largest gaming site in Russia in October, with approximately eight million players.

While it is still feasible to get around a few of these limitations by utilizing virtual private network services, VPNs themselves are frequently targeted by authorities as well.