Russian Authorities Restricts Snapchat and Limits Apple's FaceTime, Officials Say

In a ongoing crackdown to tighten control over internet access, state officials have cut off access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on the Apple FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Restrictions

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor claimed that these services were being used to organize and conduct terrorist activities on Russian soil, to enlist people and engage in fraudulent activities and other crimes against citizens.

Roskomnadzor stated it took action on Snapchat on October 10, even though the move was only made public later.

Broader Campaign of Internet Control

These latest moves follow comparable limitations imposed on popular services such as YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. These measures of restrictions escalated after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, the government have undertaken systematic and multi-pronged efforts to curtail the open internet. This has included:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Blocking online services that refuse to cooperate with state demands.
• Advancing technical capabilities to track and influence online traffic.

Recent Examples of Blocks

Access to the YouTube platform was disrupted last year in an incident described as targeted interference by regulators. Russian officials attributed the issue to Google for not properly maintaining its infrastructure in Russia.

This summer, authorities further restricted internet access with widespread disruptions of mobile internet connections. Officials stated this was required to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but analysts saw it as another step to tighten control over the internet.

Targeting Communication Apps

The government has also targeted widely-used messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in this year. Furthermore, officials outlawed calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the measure by saying the two apps were being used for crime.

Simultaneously, the state have actively promoted a so-called "national" messenger app called "Max". Observers regard it as a possible surveillance tool. The platform openly declares it will share user data with authorities when asked, and analysts note it does not use strong encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Commentary

According to lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations defines any service where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This classification mandates that platforms register with Roskomnadzor and grant Russia's security service with entry to communications. Services failing to meet these demands are in violation and face blocking.

Seleznev noted that potentially tens of millions of Russians had been using FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the blocking of the service as "predictable" and warned that other platforms that do not cooperate with authorities "will be blocked – that is clear."

Gaming Platforms Also Affected

In a separate action, the government also said it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at protecting children from illicit content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular gaming site in Russia in October, with approximately eight million players.

Although it is still feasible to bypass certain of these restrictions by employing VPN services, those are frequently targeted by officials as well.