Russia restricts FaceTime, blocks Snapchat
Russia’s internet regulator Roskomnadzor said Dec. 4 it imposed restrictions on Apple’s FaceTime and disclosed it blocked Snapchat on Oct. 10, alleging both are used for terrorism, recruiting and fraud. The moves expand the Kremlin’s campaign to control online communications after prior blocks on Signal and Viber, bans on WhatsApp and Telegram calls, YouTube throttling, VPN disruption, and promotion of a state-backed MAX messenger.
📌 Key Facts
- Roskomnadzor announced FaceTime restrictions on Dec. 4 and said Snapchat has been blocked since Oct. 10, 2025.
- Regulator’s stated rationale: services are used to organize terrorist activities, recruit perpetrators, and commit fraud.
- Actions follow earlier measures: Signal and Viber blocked (2024); WhatsApp and Telegram calls banned (2025); YouTube access throttled; VPNs and mobile internet periodically shut down; state-backed MAX app promoted.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2024, Russia experienced 13 terrorist attacks resulting in 197 deaths, the highest death toll in a decade.
Global Terrorism Index 2025 — Institute for Economics & Peace
The perpetrators of the March 2024 Crocus City Hall terrorist attack in Russia, which killed 144 people, were Tajik nationals; Tajik migrants constitute approximately 1.1% of Russia's population (about 1.6 million out of 144 million).
Global Terrorism Index 2025 — Institute for Economics & Peace
Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISK) uses multilingual online propaganda, including in Russian and Tajik, via Telegram and encrypted apps for recruitment and remote instruction on terrorist tactics.
Global Terrorism Index 2025 — Institute for Economics & Peace
Cybercrime accounts for 40% of all reported crimes in Russia, with losses amounting to hundreds of billions of rubles annually.
Russia Creates Database to Track and Block Cybercriminals — The Moscow Times
Snapchat has approximately 7.85 million users in Russia as of 2025.
Snapchat Revenue and Usage Statistics (2025) — Business of Apps