Russia Blocks FaceTime, Snapchat, and Roblox
Russia has blocked Apple’s FaceTime video calling app in an ongoing effort to eliminate private communication methods, reports Reuters. Russia claims FaceTime is being used for criminal activity, and that blocking the app is a legitimate law enforcement measure. Social network Snapchat and multiplayer gaming platform Roblox were also banned this week.
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FaceTime is now restricted nationwide, and has likely been blocked at the network level, so it may still be accessible through a VPN. Moscow residents are seeing a “User unavailable” message when attempting to use FaceTime , which is the error displayed when a FaceTime call is unable to connect. The app still opens and activates, so Apple hasn’t removed it.
Russia has blocked access to popular gaming platform Roblox due to concerns over child safety and extremism, including the spread of LGBT-related content.
The country’s media regulator said Roblox had become rife with “inappropriate content that can negatively impact the spiritual and moral development of children”, according to local news outlets.
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The Roskomnadzor also flagged reports of sexual harassment of children and the sharing of intimate images on the platform. Other countries have raised similar issues, and the platform is already banned in certain countries, including Turkey, over concerns about child safety.
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Last month, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the platform over “flagrantly ignoring” safety laws and “deceiving parents” about the dangers it posed to young people.
Previously:
- Mandate to Pre-Install iOS App in India
- Apple Removes VPN Apps From Russian App Store
- iOS to Offer Pre-Installed Apps in Russia
- Apple Storing Russian Users’ Data on Local Servers
- Apple Hasn’t Blocked Telegram App, But Won’t Allow Updates
