Russia has taken action to block Apple’s FaceTime app, as announced by the state communications watchdog on Thursday, following the previous day’s ban on the U.S. children’s gaming platform Roblox. These measures are part of an increasing crackdown on foreign technology platforms, with authorities in Russia alleging that FaceTime is being misused for criminal activities, while Roblox is accused of disseminating extremist content and “LGBT propaganda.”
This move comes in the wake of restrictions imposed on other tech giants like Google’s YouTube, Meta’s WhatsApp, and the Telegram messaging service. Critics argue that these restrictions amount to censorship and signify a tightening of state control over private communications, while Russian authorities defend them as legitimate law enforcement actions. As a response, Russian authorities have introduced a state-backed alternative app called Max, which critics fear could be utilized for surveillance purposes, a claim dismissed as baseless by state media.
The Russian communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, justified its decision by stating that FaceTime is allegedly being used to coordinate terrorist activities, recruit individuals for illegal activities, and perpetrate fraud against Russian citizens, without providing specific evidence to support these claims.
Apple has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the FaceTime block, a popular app that allows users to make free video and audio calls over Wi-Fi or cellular data. Reports from Moscow residents indicate that attempting to use FaceTime on Thursday resulted in an on-screen message stating “User unavailable,” with connections failing for some users.
In recent months, Roskomnadzor has heightened its efforts to block access to Western media and tech platforms that are deemed to violate Russian laws. In August, Russia began restricting certain features on WhatsApp and Telegram, accusing them of refusing to cooperate with law enforcement in combating fraud and terrorism. The watchdog also issued a threat last week to completely block WhatsApp.
Last year, the language-learning app Duolingo removed references to what Russia terms “non-traditional sexual relations” following warnings from the watchdog regarding LGBTQ+ content.
In a separate incident, Roskomnadzor also blocked access to the popular U.S. children’s gaming platform Roblox on allegations of promoting extremist content and “LGBT propaganda.” A spokesperson for Roblox stated that the platform complies with local laws and regulations, emphasizing its commitment to safety and its efforts to prevent harmful content on the platform. Roblox, with an average of 151.5 million daily active users in the third quarter of this year, has faced bans in multiple countries over concerns of child safety.
In 2023, Russia labeled the “international LGBT movement” as extremist, leading to severe legal repercussions for individuals and organizations supporting LGBTQ rights.
