(MENAFN) Russian authorities have shut down access to Apple’s FaceTime on Thursday, claiming the decision was made after the platform was allegedly used to facilitate criminal acts.

According to general statements from Russia’s communications and media regulator Roskomnadzor, users in the country have been encountering access disruptions to FaceTime since September. The agency asserted that the app had been exploited for organizing or carrying out terrorist operations, recruiting individuals for such activities, and enabling fraud and other offenses targeting Russian citizens. On this basis, the regulator confirmed that the service was officially blocked.

At the same time, Russia has already limited calling features on WhatsApp and Telegram, citing national security concerns and the need to prevent fraud. In their place, the newly introduced domestic platform MAX has been gaining traction, especially within government bodies and public-sector institutions.

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