A new report from Reuters says Russia has blocked FaceTime access in the country, with users unable to connect via Apple’s platform as of today. Here are the details.
FaceTime blocked in Russia as part of escalating communications suppression
Mark Trevelyan and Gleb Stolyarov write at Reuters:
Russia has blocked Apple’s video-calling app FaceTime, the state communications watchdog said on Thursday, as part of an accelerating clampdown on foreign tech platforms that authorities allege are being used for criminal activity. […]
Justifying its decision, the communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, said in an emailed statement: “According to law enforcement agencies, FaceTime is being used to organise and carry out terrorist attacks in the country, recruit perpetrators, and commit fraud and other crimes against Russian citizens.” The watchdog did not cite evidence in support of the allegations.
Reportedly, Moscow residents who tried to use FaceTime today received on-screen messages saying “User unavailable”. In at least one case, a user saw an incoming call on their iPhone, but the call wouldn’t actually connect when answered.
FaceTime is far from the only communications platform that’s been blocked recently. Reuters notes that today’s move “follows restrictions against Google’s YouTube, Meta’s WhatsApp and the Telegram messaging service.”
Just yesterday, Russia also blocked access to the popular game Roblox, saying it was used to distribute extremist materials and “LGBT propaganda.“
We’ll keep you posted as the story develops with any significant updates.
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