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Amid a ongoing crackdown to exert greater control over digital platforms, Russian officials have cut off access to the social media app Snapchat and enacted limitations on Apple's FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Block

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor stated that these services were employed to plan and execute acts of terrorism on Russian soil, for recruiting individuals and carry out fraud and other crimes aimed at the populace.

Officials stated it took action targeting Snapchat back on the 10th of October, although the move was only made public later.

Wider Context of Online Restrictions

This recent action follow comparable blocks targeting popular services like YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. This wave of bans began in earnest after the onset of the conflict of Ukraine by Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have engaged in calculated and multi-pronged efforts to control the digital space. This has included:

• Enacting restrictive laws.
• Banning online services that fail to comply with Russian regulations.
• Developing systems to monitor and manipulate internet traffic.

Other Examples of Crackdowns

Service for the YouTube platform was disrupted previously in a case of deliberate throttling by regulators. Russian officials pointed the finger at Google for not properly maintaining its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, authorities tightened connectivity with widespread shutdowns of cellphone internet connections. Officials claimed this was necessary to counter drone strikes, but analysts argued an additional move to tighten control over the digital landscape.

Action Against Communication Platforms

Authorities has also acted against popular communication apps. Encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were banned in recently. This year, authorities outlawed voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, explaining the ban by saying the platforms were being involved in crime.

Simultaneously, authorities have heavily pushed a dubbed "domestic" communication platform called Max. Experts see it as a potential surveillance tool. The app admits it will share user data with authorities if demanded, and experts note it lacks full encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

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

This designation requires that platforms register with the regulator and allow state security with access to communications. Those failing to do so are breaking the law and face blocking.

Seleznev estimated that potentially tens of millions of users in Russia had been turning to FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on other messaging apps. He described the blocking of the service as "expected" and warned that other platforms refusing to comply with authorities "are likely to be blocked – it is inevitable."

Entertainment Sites Too Targeted

As another move, the authorities reported it was banning the online game platform Roblox, claiming it aimed at protecting children from illicit content. Per data from research group Mediascope, the platform was the number two gaming site in Russia last month, with nearly eight million active users.

While it remains possible to bypass certain of these restrictions by using VPN services, VPNs themselves are also often blocked by officials as well.