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As part of a ongoing effort to increase oversight over digital platforms, Russian officials have blocked access to Snapchat and imposed restrictions on Apple's video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Block

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor stated that the two apps were employed to organize and conduct terrorist acts inside Russia, for recruiting individuals and carry out fraud along with other offenses against citizens.

Officials stated it took action on Snapchat on October 10, although the announcement was publicly disclosed later.

Wider Context of Internet Control

These new restrictions come after comparable limitations targeting popular services including YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. This wave of censorship intensified after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have engaged in systematic and comprehensive initiatives to rein in the internet. Actions have involved:

• Adopting restrictive laws.
• Blocking websites and platforms that do not comply with state demands.
• Perfecting systems to track and influence online traffic.

Other Instances of Crackdowns

Access to YouTube was disrupted in the past in an incident described as targeted interference by officials. Russian officials blamed YouTube's owner, Google for allegedly neglecting its hardware in Russia.

This summer, officials tightened connectivity with extensive disruptions of cellular data connections. The government insisted this was required to thwart Ukrainian drone attacks, but critics argued another step to increase control over the digital landscape.

Action Against Messaging Platforms

Regulators has also targeted popular communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were blocked in this year. This year, officials prohibited voice calls on the WhatsApp app and Telegram, explaining the measure by claiming the platforms were being used for crime.

Concurrently, authorities have actively promoted a so-called "national" messenger app called "Max". Observers regard it as a possible monitoring instrument. The service explicitly states it will hand over data with officials when asked, and analysts note it does not use strong encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Analysis

As explained by cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, Russian law views any platform where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This label obligates that platforms have an account with the regulator and allow state security with entry to user data. Platforms that fail to do so are non-compliant and can get blocked.

Seleznev noted that possibly many millions of Russians had been using FaceTime, especially after restrictions were placed on other messaging apps. He described the restrictions against the Apple service as "expected" and cautioned that further services refusing to comply with Roskomnadzor "will be blocked – that's obvious."

Gaming Platforms Also Affected

As another development, the government also said it was restricting Roblox, claiming it aimed at protecting children from illicit content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second-largest game platform in Russia recently, with approximately 8 million players.

While it is still possible to circumvent some of these blocks by employing VPN services, those are frequently targeted by authorities as well.