• Russia has blocked access to FaceTime due to alleged criminal activities.
• The state communications watchdog cites concerns over terrorism and fraud.
• This move follows earlier restrictions on WhatsApp, Telegram, and YouTube.
• Critics view the actions as censorship and increased state control.
• The recently launched app MAX is positioned as a domestic alternative.

Russia has taken the significant step of blocking access to Apple's FaceTime app, claiming it is being used to facilitate criminal activities. The Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, known as Roskomnadzor, stated that FaceTime is allegedly involved in organizing terrorist activities, recruiting perpetrators, and committing fraud against Russian citizens, which led to the ban on December 4, 2023, according to Reuters, aa, and India Times.

This latest ban is part of a broader clampdown on foreign tech platforms, which has previously included restrictions on WhatsApp and Telegram for similar reasons related to security and anti-fraud measures. Roskomnadzor stated that these technologies were "refusing to share critical information" with law enforcement, heightening tensions between the Russian state and foreign companies, as reported by aa and India Times.

Furthermore, Russia has initiated the use of a domestically developed app named MAX, which critics argue may be employed for surveillance purposes. This move aligns with the government's efforts to enhance state control over digital communications while responding to perceived threats posed by foreign platforms, highlighted by recent actions including the restriction of the U.S. platform Roblox due to allegations of distributing extremist content, according to Reuters and India Times.