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In a ongoing effort to tighten control over internet access, Russian regulators have restricted access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on the Apple video calling service, Apple FaceTime.

Official Reasons for the Restrictions

The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor alleged that both applications were being used to plan and execute terrorist acts on Russian soil, to recruit perpetrators and engage in fraudulent activities along with other offenses aimed at the populace.

Roskomnadzor said it enforced the restriction on Snapchat on October 10, though the announcement was publicly disclosed on Thursday.

Wider Campaign of Digital Crackdown

This recent action follow similar restrictions targeting key apps such as YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. These measures of censorship escalated after the onset of the conflict of Ukraine.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have engaged in systematic and wide-ranging strategies to rein in the internet. This has included:

• Enacting tough new laws.
• Outlawing online services that fail to comply with state demands.
• Advancing systems to observe and control digital communications.

Recent Instances of Blocks

Service for YouTube was disrupted previously in a case of targeted interference by the authorities. Authorities blamed YouTube's owner, Google for failing to maintain its hardware in Russia.

Recently, authorities tightened online access with broad shutdowns of mobile internet connections. The government claimed this was necessary to prevent drone strikes, but critics contended an additional move to tighten control over the internet.

Action Against Communication Platforms

Authorities has also moved against popular communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were banned in this year. This year, officials banned calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, explaining the measure by claiming the platforms were being facilitating criminal activities.

Simultaneously, the state have heavily pushed a dubbed "domestic" messenger app called "Max". Observers regard it as a potential surveillance tool. The app openly declares it will provide user information with authorities if demanded, and analysts note it is not equipped with end-to-end encryption.

Legal Framework and Expert Commentary

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

This label obligates that such services register with the regulator and provide Russia's security service with the ability to monitor communications. Services failing to meet these demands are in violation and can get blocked.

Seleznev pointed out that potentially many millions of users in Russia had been using FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the restrictions against the service as "expected" and warned that other sites failing to cooperate with authorities "are likely to be blocked – it is inevitable."

Gaming Sites Too Targeted

In a separate action, the government also said it was blocking Roblox, stating the reason was safeguarding minors from harmful content. According to media monitoring group Mediascope, the platform was the second-largest gaming site in Russia in October, with nearly eight million active users.

While it remains feasible to circumvent some of these blocks by employing virtual private network services, such tools are also often blocked by authorities as well.