Roblox, FaceTime become the last targets of Russia's censorship

• Russia blocks access to FaceTime and Roblox
• This comes a few days after threatening a full ban on WhatsApp
• Russia is escalating efforts to detect and restrict VPNs, too

Russia keeps expanding its crackdown on digital freedom, this time blocking two more major Western platforms: FaceTime and Roblox. The move is already a major disruption in how millions of Russians communicate and play online, with users reporting sudden outages and connection failures on both services.

Yet, it's far from isolated. Since 2022, a steady stream of restrictions has targeted Western apps, networks, and services, with Russia's communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, threatening a full block on WhatsApp only a few days ago.

While authorities motivate the blocks as a way to halt terrorism and protect children's online safety, restrictions are reshaping digital life across Russia, isolating millions of Russians from global tech platforms. And while all ...