Russia has tightened its control over online communications once again, blocking Snapchat and restricting Apple’s FaceTime amid claims that both services were being used for criminal activity.
The announcement came from Roskomnadzor, the country’s powerful communications watchdog, marking the latest in a series of sweeping actions targeting foreign-owned digital platforms operating in the country.
Roskomnadzor claims both services were being used “to organize and carry out terrorist acts, recruit perpetrators, and commit fraud.” The regulator claimed the services helped criminals communicate secretly and recruit participants for illegal operations. According to the agency, the restrictions were actually enforced on October 10, 2025; they were publicly confirmed only this week. Neither Apple nor Snap Inc. has commented.
The move continues a broader effort under President Vladimir Putin to tighten state control over Russia’s digital landscape. Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, authorities have blocked or restricted numerous platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), YouTube, and even parts of Telegram and WhatsApp, for refusing to comply with local laws.
For many Russian users, FaceTime had become one of the last major Western video-calling options, after Russia limited voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram. Reports of failed calls started surfacing in September, with users discovering that a VPN — a tool the government is now aggressively blocking as well — was the only way to restore connections.
Digital rights groups argue that the crackdown has less to do with security and more about forcing a shift toward Max, a state-backed “national” messenger app developed by VK. The app, which lacks end-to-end encryption and openly shares data with authorities, has already been made mandatory on new smartphones sold in Russia and is marketed as a secure alternative.
The restrictions come just days after Moscow banned the gaming platform Roblox, which officials claim exposes children to harmful content. Analysts say the growing list of banned services signals Moscow’s determination to consolidate control over Russia’s digital space, ensuring that communication, entertainment, and information all flow through state-supervised channels.
As Russia edges closer to a fully regulated digital space, experts warn that any service refusing to comply with the country’s surveillance requirements could face the same fate as Snapchat and FaceTime.
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