Russia banned Snap Inc.'s Snapchat and Apple Inc.'s FaceTime, further limiting access to Western communication services, according to Interfax.
The communications agency Roskomnadzor said Snapchat and FaceTime were being used within Russia “to organize and carry out terrorist acts” and recruit perpetrators, as well as to commit fraud and other crimes, the news service cited the body as saying Thursday.
Russia has been reducing access to Western communication services since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022. It banned US-owned social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and X and limited access to YouTube, while on Wednesday it also blocked Roblox Corp.'s popular kids' gaming platform.
Also Read | Layoffs Are Rising In Tech, But These Skills Are Helping People Unlock Better Pay
-
NDTV Profit Ignite 2026: Experts See Opportunity In Equities, Stay Bullish For Long-Term -
Buy Right, Sit Tight Does Not Work for Individual Stocks, Says Dinshaw Irani -
'Worst Is Behind': Quant MF Sees Market Bottom, Flags 'Extreme Euphoria' In Midcaps -
India's Mutual Fund Industry Could Become A $1 Trillion Opportunity, Say Fund Managers -
'Foreign Investors Are Baraatis': Raamdeo Agrawal's Take On LTCG Tax -
Stay Invested Through Market Cycles: Raamdeo Agrawal at NDTV Profit Ignite -
Ramesh Damani Remains Bullish On India For Next 20-30 Years, Sees Bargains Amid Market Weakness -
CAS Came After A Long Consultation Process: SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey AT NDTV PROFIT IGNITE -
Aim To Cut FPI Onboarding Time From Mth To Five Days: SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey AT NDTV PROFI -
"I Am A Material Man In A Material World': Quantum Advisors' Ajit Dayal On NDTV Profit Ignite
Snap declined to comment on the decision.
The Russian authorities have stepped up restrictions on foreign services since state-owned VK Co. launched a national “super app” called Max to host government services and enable document storage, messaging, banking and other public and commercial services.
Last month Russia warned that it may fully ban WhatsApp, the most popular messenger in the country, accusing the service of violation of local law. Roskomnadzor is trying to limit users' access to VPN services, designed to bypass restrictions, local outlet RBC reported Thursday.
Maksut Shadayev, Russia's digital and communications minister, declined to comment to Bloomberg when asked about restrictions against messengers.
Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
