Russia bans Snapchat, FaceTime citing terrorism and fraud concerns
What's the story
Russia has banned popular social media platform Snapchat and imposed restrictions on Apple's video calling service, FaceTime. The move comes as part of the country's ongoing efforts to tighten control over internet usage and online communication. The state internet regulator Roskomnadzor claimed that both apps were being used "to organize and conduct terrorist activities on the territory of the country."
Allegations
Accusations against Snapchat and FaceTime
Roskomnadzor further alleged that Snapchat and FaceTime were used "to recruit perpetrators [and] commit fraud and other crimes against our citizens." The regulator said it took action against Snapchat on October 10, but only publicly announced the decision on Thursday. This follows a series of restrictions imposed on other platforms like Google's YouTube, Meta's WhatsApp and Instagram, as well as Telegram over a period following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Strategy
Russia's multi-faceted approach to internet control
Under President Vladimir Putin, Russian authorities have pursued a comprehensive strategy to tighten internet control. This includes passing restrictive laws and blocking non-compliant websites and platforms. The government has also developed technology to monitor and manipulate online traffic. Last year, access to YouTube was disrupted in what experts called a deliberate throttling by the authorities who blamed Google for not properly maintaining its hardware in Russia.
Circumvention attempts
VPNs and internet access restrictions
While some restrictions can be bypassed with virtual private network services, these are often blocked too. This summer, authorities further restricted internet access by shutting down cellphone internet connections in many regions. Officials claimed the measure was necessary to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks, but experts argued it was another step toward tightening internet control. "White lists" of government-approved sites and services have been introduced that are supposed to function despite a shutdown.
Messaging restrictions
Russia's crackdown on messaging platforms
The Russian government has also targeted popular messaging platforms. In 2024, encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were banned. Earlier this year, authorities banned calls via WhatsApp and Telegram—the two most popular messaging apps in Russia—claiming they were being used for criminal activities. Despite these actions, many Russians continue to use these services through VPNs or other means of circumventing internet restrictions imposed by the government.