🔗 Share this article

As part of a sustained effort to exert greater control over online communications, Russian authorities have blocked access to Snapchat and placed curbs on the Apple video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Restrictions

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor claimed that both applications were utilized to plan and execute acts of terrorism on Russian soil, for recruiting individuals and carry out fraud and other crimes against citizens.

Roskomnadzor stated it took action on Snapchat in early October, although the move was only made public later.

Wider Campaign of Online Restrictions

This recent action are part of comparable restrictions targeting major platforms such as YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. The campaign of censorship escalated in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have engaged in systematic and comprehensive efforts to rein in the digital space. Measures have included:

• Enacting tough new laws.
• Outlawing websites and platforms that refuse to cooperate with local rules.
• Advancing systems to monitor and manipulate digital communications.

Other Instances of Blocks

Service for YouTube was disrupted last year in what experts called deliberate throttling by regulators. Authorities blamed Google for allegedly neglecting its hardware in Russia.

In recent months, authorities limited connectivity with broad shutdowns of mobile internet connections. Officials insisted this was needed to prevent drone strikes, but experts saw it as a further measure to increase control over the internet.

Targeting Communication Apps

Authorities has also acted against popular communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were blocked in this year. Additionally, authorities prohibited voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, defending the action by saying the services were being facilitating crime.

Simultaneously, the state have heavily pushed a dubbed "national" communication platform called Max. Critics see it as a potential surveillance tool. The app admits it will provide user information with authorities if demanded, and experts note it is not equipped with end-to-end encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Commentary

As explained by lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations classifies any platform where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This label requires that platforms have an account with Roskomnadzor and allow the FSB with access to user data. Platforms that fail to comply are in violation and can get blocked.

Seleznev noted that perhaps many millions of Russians had been relying on FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the blocking of the service as "expected" and stated that further services failing to cooperate with authorities "will be blocked – that's obvious."

Entertainment Platforms Too Affected

In a separate move, the government also said it was banning Roblox, stating the reason was protecting children from inappropriate material. According to research group Mediascope, the platform was the number two gaming site in Russia in October, with approximately 8 million active users.

Although it remains feasible to get around a few of these limitations by utilizing VPN services, those are routinely blocked by the regulator as well.