Russia’s state communications watchdog has intensified its campaign against foreign messaging platforms, blocking Snapchat on Thursday just hours after restricting access to Apple’s FaceTime service.
Roskomnadzor said Snapchat was being used “to organize and carry out terrorist activities in the country” and to facilitate fraud and other crimes, according to a statement carried by state media.
The app famous for its disappearing photo and video messages had 7.6 million users in Russia in 2022.
The regulator issued a similar explanation earlier in the day when announcing restrictions on voice and video calls on Apple’s FaceTime, one of the last major video-calling tools still widely accessible in Russia after restrictions on WhatsApp and Telegram.
The moves come as Roskomnadzor steps up pressure on WhatsApp, the country’s most widely used messenger with nearly 100 million users.
The watchdog warned last week that a full block was possible, accusing the Meta-owned service of failing to comply with Russia’s data-localization laws and of what it called repeated legal violations tied to alleged terrorist activity.
Russian users first reported widespread disruptions to FaceTime calls in September. Thursday’s announcement marked the first confirmation that authorities had moved to restrict Snapchat and FaceTime.
The Moscow Times tried to call several people inside Russia using FaceTime but was unable to connect. However, video and voice calls are still possible on the app when users turn on a VPN.
Similar problems have been reported with WhatsApp and Telegram, both of which have been targeted by Roskomnadzor amid allegations that they are being used to commit fraud against Russian citizens.
Despite the official terrorism claims, the internet rights group Na Svyazi has accused the authorities of trying to push Russians toward Max, a government-backed messaging app that the group says gives officials full access to users’ private conversations.
The FaceTime and Snapchat restrictions came a day after Roskomnadzor blocked access to the U.S.-owned gaming platform Roblox, accusing it of distributing extremist materials, promoting “LGBT propaganda” and “negatively impacting the spiritual and moral development of children.”
Roblox was the most-downloaded mobile game in Russia in 2023.
Mack Tubridy contributed reporting.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
