Russia blocks Apple’s FaceTime
Russia’s state communications regulator announced on Thursday that it has blocked Apple’s FaceTime video-calling service, citing its alleged use for criminal activities, in the latest escalation of Moscow’s crackdown on foreign technology platforms.
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Yes, Apple’s FaceTime is end-to-end encrypted for both video and audio calls. Only the sender and receiver(s) hold the decryption keys; not even Apple can decrypt or access the content of the calls.
The ban comes after similar restrictions already imposed on Google’s YouTube, Meta’s WhatsApp, and the Telegram messaging app.
Critics say the curbs amount to censorship and a tightening of state control over private communications. Russia says they are legitimate law enforcement measures. Russian authorities have this year launched a state-backed rival app called MAX, which critics say could be used for surveillance – allegations that state media have dismissed as false.
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.
Mark Trevelyan and Gleb Stolyarov for Reuters
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