Russian officials announced on Thursday that they have restricted Apple’s FaceTime service. This action is an ongoing attempt to strengthen control over online communications within the country.
According to Roskomnadzor, the state internet regulator, the service has been allegedly “used to organize and conduct terrorist activities,” as well as recruit individuals for various crimes against Russian citizens. Apple has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding these claims.
In addition to FaceTime, Russian authorities revealed that they also blocked Snapchat—a messaging platform that allows users to share photos, videos, and texts—citing similar reasons for the restriction. This action took place on October 10 but was only reported recently.
Under President Vladimir Putin, the government has progressively worked to tighten its grip on internet usage. They have enacted strict laws and prohibited access to platforms that do not align with their regulations. Additionally, technology has been advanced to monitor and manage online traffic effectively.
Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia banned major social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Disruptions to YouTube last year were seen as intentional slowdowns by authorities; the government blamed Google for not adequately maintaining its infrastructure in Russia.
Although some users continue to bypass restrictions using virtual private networks, these services are frequently blocked as well.
This summer, authorities further curtailed internet access, shutting down mobile internet connections across various regions. Officials claimed this was necessary to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks, but many experts believe it’s another tactic to enforce stricter online control. In multiple areas, the government has established “white lists” of approved websites and services that would remain accessible during these shutdowns.
In past efforts against messaging platforms, the government blocked encrypted messaging service Signal and Viber in 2024. Just this year, calls via WhatsApp and Telegram—both popular in Russia—were banned, as authorities cited their use in criminal activities.
At the same time, the government has promoted a domestic messaging app called MAX, which critics argue functions as a surveillance tool. This app, which also integrates various services like payments and government functions, explicitly states it will share user data with authorities if requested and lacks end-to-end encryption.
Additionally, the government recently announced it would block Roblox, a well-known online gaming platform, claiming it was to protect children from inappropriate content and potential predators.
Stanislav Seleznev, a cyber security expert and attorney with the Net Freedom rights group, pointed out that Russian law categorizes any platform enabling messaging as “organizers of dissemination of information.” This classification requires platforms to register with Roskomnadzor, allowing the government to issue directives and monitor user accounts. Failure to comply may lead to being blocked, he explained.
Seleznev suggested that these regulations could apply to both Roblox and FaceTime.
According to media monitoring group Mediascope, Roblox was the second most popular gaming platform in Russia as of October, boasting nearly 8 million monthly users.
He estimated that possibly tens of millions of Russians utilized FaceTime, particularly after the bans on WhatsApp and Telegram. He described the restrictions on FaceTime as “predictable” and indicated that other platforms failing to adhere to Roskomnadzor’s demands would likely face similar outcomes.
