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Amid a ongoing effort to increase oversight over online communications, state authorities have cut off access to Snapchat and placed curbs on the Apple video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Restrictions

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor alleged that the two apps were utilized to facilitate and carry out terrorist acts inside Russia, to enlist people and carry out fraud and other crimes aimed at the populace.

Roskomnadzor stated it enforced the restriction on Snapchat on October 10, though the move was only reported on Thursday.

Wider Context of Internet Control

These latest moves follow comparable restrictions imposed on major platforms including YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. These measures of restrictions escalated after the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have undertaken deliberate and wide-ranging efforts to rein in the open internet. Measures have included:

• Enacting stringent legislation.
• Banning online services that do not comply with state demands.
• Advancing technical capabilities to track and influence digital communications.

Recent Instances of Restrictions

Access to the YouTube platform was disrupted last year in what experts called intentional slowing by officials. Authorities pointed the finger at YouTube's owner, Google for allegedly neglecting its hardware in Russia.

Recently, officials further restricted connectivity with widespread shutdowns of cellphone internet connections. The government stated this was necessary to prevent drone strikes, but experts contended another step to assert dominance over the internet.

Action Against Messaging Platforms

Authorities has also targeted widely-used messaging platforms. The encrypted app Signal and the Viber service, Viber, were restricted in this year. Furthermore, authorities outlawed voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, explaining the action by stating the platforms were being involved in criminal activities.

At the same time, the state have championed a so-called "national" messenger app called "Max". Observers see it as a potential tool for oversight. The app admits it will hand over data with authorities if demanded, and experts note it does not use full encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

As explained by cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law classifies any platform where users can message as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This label obligates that such services establish a presence with Roskomnadzor and provide state security with entry to communications. Platforms that fail to meet these demands are breaking the law and face blocking.

Seleznev pointed out that perhaps a large number of users in Russia had been relying on FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on other messaging apps. He described the restrictions against the Apple service as "expected" and warned that other platforms that do not cooperate with authorities "are likely to be blocked – that is clear."

Gaming Platforms Too Affected

As another action, the authorities announced it was restricting the online game platform Roblox, citing protecting children from illicit content. Per data from research group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular gaming site in Russia in October, with close to eight million monthly users.

Although it is still possible to circumvent some of these restrictions by using VPN services, those are frequently targeted by officials as well.