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In a sustained effort to increase oversight over digital platforms, Russian officials have restricted access to Snapchat and enacted limitations on Apple's FaceTime service, Apple FaceTime.

Stated Justifications for the Ban

The regulatory body Roskomnadzor claimed that these services were employed to organize and conduct terrorist acts within the country, to enlist people and engage in fraudulent activities as well as various crimes against citizens.

The regulator stated it initiated the block on Snapchat on October 10, although the move was only made public later.

Wider Context of Online Restrictions

These new restrictions follow previous restrictions imposed on major platforms including Google's YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram, and the Telegram service. These measures of censorship intensified after the 2022 military action of Ukraine.

Since Vladimir Putin, authorities have pursued deliberate and wide-ranging initiatives to control the digital space. This has included:

• Passing tough new laws.
• Banning digital platforms that refuse to cooperate with Russian regulations.
• Perfecting technical capabilities to monitor and manipulate digital communications.

Other Instances of Restrictions

Access to YouTube was throttled previously in what experts called deliberate throttling by the authorities. Authorities blamed YouTube's owner, Google for not properly maintaining its hardware in Russia.

This summer, authorities tightened internet access with broad disruptions of cellular data connections. The government insisted this was required to thwart Ukrainian drone attacks, but critics argued a further measure to increase control over the internet.

Targeting Messaging Apps

Regulators has also targeted popular communication apps. The encrypted app Signal and another popular app, Viber, were blocked in recently. Additionally, authorities banned calls via the WhatsApp app and Telegram, justifying the action by claiming the platforms were being involved in criminal activities.

Simultaneously, the state have heavily pushed a dubbed "domestic" messenger app called Max. Critics view it as a potential tool for oversight. The service openly declares it will hand over data with officials when asked, and analysts note it lacks end-to-end encryption.

Legal Framework and Analyst Commentary

Per cyber security expert Stanislav Seleznev, regulations defines any platform where users can message as an "information dissemination organizer".

This designation obligates that such services have an account with Roskomnadzor and grant Russia's security service with the ability to monitor user data. Platforms that fail to do so are breaking the law and can get blocked.

Seleznev noted that possibly tens of millions of users in Russia had been relying on FaceTime, particularly after restrictions were placed on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the restrictions against the Apple service as "predictable" and warned that further services that do not cooperate with Roskomnadzor "will be blocked – that's obvious."

Entertainment Platforms Too Targeted

As another development, the authorities also said it was restricting Roblox, claiming it aimed at safeguarding minors from illicit content. According to research group Mediascope, Roblox was the second-largest game platform in Russia in October, with approximately eight million players.

While it is still possible to circumvent some of these blocks by utilizing VPN services, such tools are also often blocked by officials as well.