Russia’s state communications watchdog announced on Thursday that it has blocked Apple’s FaceTime app, following its recent ban on the American children’s gaming platform Roblox. The crackdown on foreign tech platforms, including YouTube, WhatsApp, and Telegram, is part of Russia’s increasing control over private communications.
Authorities in Russia claim that FaceTime is being used for criminal activities such as organizing terrorist attacks, recruiting perpetrators, and committing fraud against Russian citizens. The allegations against FaceTime and Roblox, which was accused of distributing extremist materials and “LGBT propaganda,” have not been supported with evidence by the watchdog.
Roskomnadzor, the communications regulator, defended its decision by stating that FaceTime poses security risks and is involved in illegal activities. Meanwhile, Apple has not responded to inquiries regarding the blocking of FaceTime, a popular app for video and audio calls.
In a similar move, Roblox was also banned over concerns about inappropriate content that could negatively impact children’s moral and spiritual development. Despite these actions, Roblox maintains that it adheres to local laws and regulations and implements safety measures to prevent harmful content on its platform.
Over the past year, Russia has intensified its efforts to restrict access to Western media and tech platforms that allegedly violate Russian laws. The country has also targeted WhatsApp and Telegram for not cooperating with law enforcement in fraud and terrorism cases.
Furthermore, in a separate development, Russia designated the “international LGBT movement” as extremist in 2023, leading to severe legal consequences for LGBTQ individuals and their supporters.
