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Russia Blocks Roblox and Snapchat, Citing 'Terrorist Activities'
Business Insiderยท 2025-12-05 05:08
Core Points - Russia's internet and media regulator, Roskomnadzor, has blocked Snapchat and Roblox, citing their use for "extremist and terrorist" activities [1][2] - The agency claims Snapchat is being used to organize terrorist activities and commit fraud, while Roblox is accused of distributing extremist propaganda and spreading "LGBT information," which is considered extremist under Russian law [2][3] - Roskomnadzor is also imposing restrictions on Apple's FaceTime, alleging it is used for coordinating terrorist activities [3] Company Responses - A spokesperson for Roblox stated the company is committed to safety and actively works to prevent harmful content on its platform [3][4] - Roblox's CEO mentioned that Russia had approximately 2 million active daily users, compared to 11 million in the US [4] Regulatory Context - Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has intensified internet regulation, imposing various restrictions on international social media and messaging platforms, including bans on Signal, WhatsApp, and Instagram [5] - The Kremlin has historically cited extremism and terrorism as reasons for internet restrictions, but now also uses these terms to describe attacks related to Ukraine or anti-Kremlin sentiments [6] Security Incidents - Russia has faced domestic attacks, including a significant incident in March 2024, where a coordinated attack in Moscow resulted in 149 deaths and 609 injuries, claimed by an ISIS branch [7]