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Amid a ongoing effort to increase oversight over internet access, state authorities have restricted access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on the Apple FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Restrictions

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor alleged that these services were employed to plan and execute terrorist acts on Russian soil, to enlist people and carry out fraud along with other offenses against citizens.

Roskomnadzor reported it enforced the restriction on Snapchat in early October, even though the move was only reported more recently.

Wider Campaign of Online Restrictions

These new restrictions follow similar limitations imposed on major platforms including YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. These measures of censorship intensified in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have engaged in calculated and comprehensive efforts to curtail the digital space. Measures have included:

• Passing tough new laws.
• Blocking online services that fail to comply with local rules.
• Advancing technical capabilities to track and influence digital communications.

Recent Examples of Blocks

Service for YouTube was slowed in the past in an incident described as deliberate throttling by the authorities. Russian officials attributed the issue to YouTube's owner, Google for not properly maintaining its servers in Russia.

In recent months, officials further restricted connectivity with widespread shutdowns of cellular data connections. Officials stated this was necessary to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but analysts saw it as another step to tighten control over the internet.

Action Against Communication Platforms

The government has also acted against popular communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were banned in 2024. This year, officials prohibited calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the ban by claiming the platforms were being involved in crime.

At the same time, the state have actively promoted a so-called "national" communication platform called "Max". Observers see it as a possible tool for oversight. The service openly declares it will share user data with authorities upon request, and experts note it is not equipped with strong encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

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

This label requires that such services have an account with the regulator and grant the FSB with the ability to monitor user accounts. Those failing to comply are in violation and may be banned.

Seleznev noted that perhaps many millions of Russians had been using FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on other messaging apps. He described the restrictions against the service as "expected" and cautioned that other sites that do not cooperate with authorities "will be blocked – that's obvious."

Gaming Platforms Also Affected

In a related development, the authorities also said it was banning Roblox, citing child protection from harmful content. Per data from research group Mediascope, the platform was the number two gaming site in Russia recently, with approximately 8 million players.

Although it remains possible to circumvent some of these limitations by employing VPN services, such tools are frequently targeted by the regulator as well.