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Amid a ongoing crackdown to increase oversight over online communications, Russian officials have restricted access to the social media app Snapchat and enacted limitations on Apple's FaceTime service, FaceTime.

Official Justifications for the Ban

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor alleged that both applications were employed to facilitate and carry out terrorist acts on Russian soil, for recruiting individuals and engage in fraudulent activities along with other offenses targeting Russian citizens.

The regulator reported it took action targeting Snapchat on October 10, even though the move was publicly disclosed later.

Wider Context of Online Restrictions

These latest moves are part of similar limitations against popular services such as YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram messaging service. The campaign of censorship began in earnest in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

During the tenure of Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have undertaken deliberate and comprehensive initiatives to curtail the internet. This has included:

• Enacting stringent legislation.
• Banning digital platforms that refuse to cooperate with local rules.
• Developing technical capabilities to monitor and manipulate digital communications.

Other Instances of Blocks

Access to YouTube was throttled in the past in a case of deliberate throttling by the authorities. Russian officials pointed the finger at YouTube's owner, Google for allegedly neglecting its infrastructure in Russia.

Recently, officials tightened online access with extensive shutdowns of cellular data connections. Officials stated this was needed to thwart drone strikes, but analysts argued an additional move to tighten control over the digital landscape.

Targeting Messaging Apps

The government has also moved against popular messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were blocked in recently. Furthermore, authorities banned voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, justifying the ban by saying the platforms were being used for criminal activities.

Simultaneously, authorities have actively promoted a so-called "national" messenger app called Max. Observers view it as a potential surveillance tool. The app explicitly states it will provide user information with the government if demanded, and experts note it lacks strong encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Commentary

According to cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, the legal framework views any service where people can communicate as an "organizer of dissemination of information".

This designation obligates that platforms register with Roskomnadzor and allow Russia's security service with entry to communications. Platforms that fail to meet these demands are breaking the law and may be banned.

Seleznev estimated that perhaps a large number of users in Russia had been turning to FaceTime, especially after voice calls were prohibited on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the restrictions against the service as "predictable" and warned that further services failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor "face blocking – it is inevitable."

Gaming Platforms Too Affected

As another action, the government also said it was banning Roblox, citing child protection from illicit content. Per data from research group Mediascope, the platform was the second most popular gaming site in Russia recently, with nearly 8 million players.

While it is still feasible to get around a few of these limitations by utilizing VPN services, such tools are also often blocked by officials as well.