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As part of a ongoing crackdown to exert greater control over digital platforms, Russian regulators have restricted access to the social media app Snapchat and placed curbs on Apple's FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Stated Reasons for the Block

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor claimed that both applications were being used to facilitate and carry out terrorist acts within the country, for recruiting individuals and engage in fraudulent activities as well as various crimes aimed at the populace.

Roskomnadzor said it took action targeting Snapchat in early October, even though the decision was publicly disclosed later.

Wider Context of Digital Crackdown

These latest moves are part of similar restrictions imposed on major platforms like Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. The campaign of restrictions began in earnest after the onset of the conflict of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, the government have engaged in deliberate and comprehensive strategies to curtail the open internet. Measures have included:

• Enacting stringent legislation.
• Blocking online services that fail to comply with local rules.
• Advancing technology to monitor and manipulate digital communications.

Other Instances of Blocks

Service for the YouTube platform was disrupted in the past in an incident described as targeted interference by regulators. The Kremlin blamed YouTube's owner, Google for not properly maintaining its servers in Russia.

This summer, officials tightened internet access with broad outages of cellular data connections. Officials insisted this was necessary to counter drone strikes, but experts contended another step to tighten control over the digital landscape.

Targeting Messaging Apps

Authorities has also acted against widely-used messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were restricted in recently. Furthermore, authorities banned calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the measure by claiming the services were being used for illegal activities.

Simultaneously, the state have heavily pushed a dubbed "domestic" messenger app called "Max". Critics see it as a potential tool for oversight. The app openly declares it will share user data with the government upon request, and experts note it does not use full encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

According to lawyer and expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law defines any service where people can communicate as an "information dissemination organizer".

This label mandates that such services establish a presence with Roskomnadzor and grant the FSB with entry to user data. Platforms that fail to comply are breaking the law and can get blocked.

Seleznev noted that potentially tens of millions of users in Russia had been turning to FaceTime, particularly after voice calls were prohibited on other messaging apps. He called the restrictions against the service as "expected" and warned that other platforms that do not cooperate with authorities "will be blocked – it is inevitable."

Gaming Sites Also Targeted

In a related move, the government announced it was restricting the online game platform Roblox, stating the reason was protecting children from illicit content. Per data from media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second most popular game platform in Russia in October, with close to eight million monthly users.

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