Russia Blocks Snapchat Amid Expanding Crackdown on Foreign Tech Platforms
Ashwini Gambo
Russia has blocked access to Snapchat, state-run news agency RIA reported yesterday, citing the country’s communications regulator Roskomnadzor. Authorities said the decision was driven in part by allegations that the platform had been used “to organise and carry out terrorist acts within the country, and to recruit perpetrators.”
The move marks the latest escalation in Moscow’s tightening controls over foreign digital services. Earlier the same day, Russia also blocked Apple’s FaceTime video-calling app, expanding a growing list of targeted platforms that authorities claim are being exploited for criminal activities.
The latest bans follow broader restrictions placed on Google’s YouTube, Meta’s WhatsApp, and the encrypted messaging service Telegram all of which have faced heightened scrutiny and regulatory pressure in Russia.
The clampdown underscores a continuing effort by Russian authorities to assert control over digital communication channels amid rising concerns both stated and politically motivated about security, information flow, and foreign influence within the country.
