- Russia blocks access to FaceTime, Roblox and Snapchat
- This comes just days after it threatened to ban WhatsApp completely.
- Russia is also increasing its efforts to detect and restrict VPNs
Russia continues to expand its crackdown on digital freedom, this time blocking three major Western platforms: FaceTime, Roblox and Snapchat. The move already marks a major change in the way millions of Russians communicate and play online, with users reporting sudden outages and connection failures on both services.
However, it is far from an isolated country. Since 2022, there has been a steady stream of restrictions targeting Western apps, networks and services, with Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor threatening to block WhatsApp entirely just days ago.
Although authorities see the closures as a way to fight terrorism and protect children’s online safety, the restrictions are reshaping digital life across Russia and isolating millions of Russians from global technology platforms. And while all this drives citizens to use the best VPN applications, VPN usage is also increasingly at risk.
Social apps under fire: Roblox, FaceTime and Snapchat have been added to the banned list
According to some reports, Roskomnadzor has officially added three major Western platforms: Roblox, Face to faceAND snapchatis added to the list of prohibited services.
IF Reuters reportsOn December 3, Roskomnadzor said Roblox was blocked because the platform allegedly exposed children to sexual harassment and spread “extremist material” and “LGBT propaganda”, saying it contained content that could harm children’s “spiritual and moral development”.
For a service that has more than 151 million daily active users worldwide, including many children and teenagers, the ban is a blow to Russia’s young online community.
to wait, The authorities also offer help. that FaceTime is used to organize terrorism, recruit criminals and commit fraud.
Users reported failed FaceTime calls in September (restrictions were also reported on Telegram and WhatsApp at the time), suggesting that the FaceTime ban may have been quietly implemented before the platform was officially banned.
And while Snapchat appears to have been blocked since October, Roskomnadzor only publicly acknowledged the restrictions due to alleged “terrorist activity.”
For many Russians, especially young people and families, opportunities for digital socialization and communication are significantly reduced due to recent bans on Roblox, FaceTime and Snapchat.
As Roskomnadzor increasingly blocks or throttles foreign platforms, many Russians are being pushed toward state-backed alternatives like MAX. The messaging app must be pre-installed on all phones sold in the country and is actively marketed across the country as a “safe” option.
But critics warn that MAX lacks the privacy and freedom offered by its encrypted Western counterparts. This has led to growing concerns about government surveillance and the loss of secure communications.
VPN access still possible, but government pressure is increasing
Currently, VPN services are one of the few ways Russians can regain access to blocked platforms like FaceTime and Roblox. This provides a potential lifeline for communication and entertainment in the face of increasing government censorship. But even this lifeline is becoming increasingly fragile.
This year, Rokomnadzor has increased its efforts to identify and block VPN traffic. The TSPU filtering system now detects many VPN protocols, meaning that many services that previously worked are routinely limited or even completely unusable.
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In addition, new laws have criminalized the sharing of information aimed at circumventing censorship blocks (including via VPN). Despite these efforts by Russian authorities, some VPNs continue to adapt. They typically rely on “stealth” or obfuscation techniques that make their traffic difficult to detect.
Specially designed for use in highly censored environments, Russian provider Amnezia VPN is now offering a 50% discount on a six-month premium subscription to Russian users whose existing VPN no longer works. This offering highlights the importance of censorship-resistant VPNs to maintain access to blocked platforms.