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Amid a continued campaign to increase oversight over internet access, state officials have cut off access to the social media app Snapchat and imposed restrictions on Apple's FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Restrictions

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor alleged that these services were employed to plan and execute acts of terrorism on Russian soil, to enlist people and engage in fraudulent activities along with other offenses targeting Russian citizens.

Roskomnadzor said it enforced the restriction targeting Snapchat in early October, though the move was publicly disclosed more recently.

Broader Context of Internet Control

This recent action follow previous blocks against key apps such as YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. This wave of restrictions intensified in the wake of the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, the government have pursued calculated and comprehensive initiatives to curtail the digital space. Measures have included:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Outlawing websites and platforms that fail to comply with local rules.
• Developing systems to observe and control digital communications.

Recent Examples of Crackdowns

Service for YouTube was slowed previously in an incident described as intentional slowing by regulators. Authorities pointed the finger at YouTube's owner, Google for allegedly neglecting its hardware in Russia.

This summer, officials tightened connectivity with broad shutdowns of cellular data connections. Officials claimed this was required to prevent drone strikes, but analysts contended another step to assert dominance over the internet.

Action Against Messaging Apps

Regulators has also moved against popular communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were blocked in this year. This year, authorities banned voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, defending the action by stating the services were being involved in criminal activities.

Concurrently, authorities have heavily pushed a dubbed "domestic" messenger app called "Max". Experts view it as a possible tool for oversight. The app admits it will share user data with the government if demanded, and experts note it does not use strong encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Analysis

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

This label mandates that such services have an account with Roskomnadzor and provide the FSB with access to communications. Those failing to meet these demands are breaking the law and may be banned.

Seleznev pointed out that potentially many millions of users in Russia had been using FaceTime, particularly after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the blocking of the service as "expected" and cautioned that other platforms failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "are likely to be blocked – that is clear."

Gaming Sites Also Targeted

As another action, the authorities announced it was banning Roblox, citing child protection from inappropriate material. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular gaming site in Russia in October, with nearly 8 million players.

While it is still feasible to get around a few of these blocks by employing virtual private network services, such tools are also often blocked by officials as well.