Russia restricts FaceTime, its latest step in controlling online communications

Russian authorities have imposed new restrictions on Apple’s FaceTime video calling service, marking another step in the government’s ongoing campaign to tighten control over internet communications.

In a statement released Thursday, state internet regulator Roskomnadzor claimed the service was being “used to organize and conduct terrorist activities on the territory of the country, to recruit perpetrators (and) commit fraud and other crimes against our citizens.” Apple has not responded to requests for comment on the restrictions.

The regulator simultaneously announced it had blocked Snapchat on October 10, citing identical security concerns, though the action was only publicly disclosed on Thursday. These moves add to President Vladimir Putin’s systematic efforts to restrict internet freedoms in Russia through legislation, website bans, and advanced traffic monitoring technologies.

Russia’s digital crackdown intensified following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when major social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram were blocked. YouTube access was significantly disrupted last year in what experts described as deliberate throttling by authorities, though the Kremlin attributed the issues to Google’s inadequate hardware maintenance in Russia.

While virtual private networks (VPNs) offer a potential workaround for these restrictions, Russian authorities routinely block these services as well, further limiting citizens’ access to unfiltered information.

This summer, authorities implemented widespread shutdowns of cellular internet connections across dozens of regions. Officials justified these measures as necessary to counter Ukrainian drone attacks, but digital rights experts characterized them as part of a broader strategy to restrict internet access. The government has introduced “white lists” of approved websites and services that remain accessible during shutdowns.

Popular messaging platforms have been particular targets in this digital crackdown. Encrypted messenger Signal and Viber were blocked in 2024, while authorities banned calls via WhatsApp and Telegram—Russia’s two most widely used messaging apps—earlier this year. These restrictions were similarly justified as measures against criminal activity.

As foreign communication platforms face increasing restrictions, the government has actively promoted “MAX,” a state-approved messaging application that critics view as a surveillance tool. The platform combines messaging, online government services, and payment functions, but explicitly states it will share user data with authorities upon request and lacks end-to-end encryption—features that have raised significant privacy concerns among digital rights advocates.

Earlier this week, authorities extended the digital clampdown to entertainment by blocking Roblox, a gaming platform with nearly 8 million monthly users in Russia as of October. The government claimed this measure was necessary to protect children from “pedophiles who meet minors directly in the game’s chats and then move on to real life.”

Stanislav Seleznev, a cybersecurity expert and lawyer with the Net Freedom rights group, explained that Russian law categorizes any platform with messaging capabilities as an “organizer of dissemination of information.” This designation requires platforms to register with Roskomnadzor and provide Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) with access to user accounts for monitoring purposes.

“Platforms failing to comply with these regulations can be legally blocked,” Seleznev told The Associated Press, suggesting these requirements likely contributed to the restrictions on both Roblox and FaceTime.

The restrictions on FaceTime are particularly significant given its increased popularity following the banning of calls on WhatsApp and Telegram. Seleznev estimated that “tens of millions of Russians” have been using the service and characterized the government’s action as “predictable,” warning that other non-compliant platforms will face similar fates.

These latest restrictions highlight Russia’s continuing efforts to create a tightly controlled digital environment, where communication tools and online spaces are increasingly subject to government oversight and regulation.