Russia bans FaceTime in Putin’s latest move to halt communication and control the internet

In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin meets with volunteers during a volunteer organisations forum in Moscow on December 3, 2025 - (Alexander SHCHERBAK / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Russia has slapped new restrictions on FaceTime in its latest move to tighten control over the internet and communications.

State internet regulator Roskomnadzor alleged in a statement that the Apple video calling service is being “used to organize and conduct terrorist activities on the territory of the country, to recruit perpetrators (and) commit fraud and other crimes against our citizens.”