Russia Bans Snapchat and FaceTime. What the New Digital Block Means for Users Worldwide
- Dec 11, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 11, 2025
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Suddenly two of the globe’s most widely used communication tools just vanished from view for millions. Roskomnadzor — Russia’s federal internet regulator — has reportedly blocked Snapchat and FaceTime inside the country, claiming they were used to organise terrorism and fraud.
This isn’t an isolated action. Over the past few years Russia has systematically shut down or restricted access to a string of major foreign platforms — everything from social-media giants to encrypted messaging apps. Now Snapchat and FaceTime join that growing list, tightening the grip on digital comms.
Inside Russia this means millions lose instant access to video-calls, disappearing-message chats, shared photos — tools many outside Russia take for granted. But the fallout reaches beyond borders. International friends and families, global remote workers, content collaborations: suddenly those connections get shaky. What does this mean for privacy trust and the future of global digital communication
