🔗 Share this article

In a sustained effort to increase oversight over internet access, Russian regulators have cut off access to the social media app Snapchat and imposed restrictions on the Apple video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Block

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor stated that the two apps were employed to facilitate and carry out acts of terrorism inside Russia, to enlist people and engage in fraudulent activities along with other offenses aimed at the populace.

Officials said it initiated the block targeting Snapchat back on the 10th of October, although the move was only made public on Thursday.

Wider Campaign of Internet Control

These latest moves come after comparable blocks targeting major platforms such as YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. The campaign of bans escalated in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, authorities have engaged in deliberate and comprehensive strategies to control the digital space. Actions have involved:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Outlawing digital platforms that do not comply with Russian regulations.
• Developing technical capabilities to monitor and manipulate digital communications.

Other Examples of Crackdowns

Access to the YouTube platform was disrupted last year in an incident described as deliberate throttling by regulators. Russian officials pointed the finger at Google for allegedly neglecting its servers in Russia.

Recently, officials further restricted internet access with extensive shutdowns of mobile internet connections. Officials insisted this was required to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but critics contended another step to increase control over the digital landscape.

Action Against Communication Apps

Regulators has also moved against popular messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were banned in this year. Additionally, authorities prohibited calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the action by saying the platforms were being involved in illegal activities.

At the same time, authorities have heavily pushed a dubbed "domestic" communication platform called "Max". Observers regard it as a potential tool for oversight. The platform admits it will provide user information with the government when asked, and experts note it is not equipped with end-to-end encryption.

Regulatory Basis and Expert Analysis

Per lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework views any service where people can communicate as an "information dissemination organizer".

This classification obligates that such services establish a presence with Roskomnadzor and grant Russia's security service with the ability to monitor user data. Platforms that fail to do so are breaking the law and can get blocked.

Seleznev noted that potentially many millions of users in Russia had been using FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the blocking of the Apple service as "predictable" and cautioned that other sites failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "face blocking – that is clear."

Entertainment Platforms Also Affected

In a related action, the government announced it was blocking the online game platform Roblox, citing child protection from illicit content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the number two gaming site in Russia recently, with approximately 8 million active users.

Although it remains possible to bypass certain of these limitations by employing virtual private network services, those are frequently targeted by the regulator as well.