Russia has blocked access to Roblox, FaceTime, adn Snapchat, escalating its crackdown on foreign dialog services. The move follows threats against WhatsApp, which Russia also seeks to restrict, as it pushes citizens toward domestic alternatives.
For years, Russian authorities have systematically limited access to popular foreign messaging apps, including long-standing restrictions on WhatsApp and Telegram, and a block on Signal and Viber implemented last year. Moscow aims to diminish reliance on non-Russian technology and encourage adoption of domestically developed platforms like Messenger Max, intended to supplant WhatsApp and Telegram. This latest wave of blocking impacts widely used social and gaming platforms, affecting millions of Russian users and signaling a potential broadening of the government’s digital control. The future holds uncertainty as to whether these blocks represent the culmination of current efforts or the beginning of further restrictions.
