Apple's iMessage uses the Apple Push Notification service (APNs) to send messages across all its devices, including iPhones and Macs. This system allows for seamless syncing of conversations and ensures that messages and attachments are protected by end-to-end encryption. Apple doesn't store these messages, making it impossible for anyone, including Apple, to decrypt the data. This security feature has implications for users in restrictive environments, such as countries that censor communication. Russia’s decision to block FaceTime while leaving iMessage untouched raises questions about how these services operate. Since iMessage relies on APNs, blocking it would require cutting off all push notifications for iOS devices. This explains why in-flight Wi-Fi, which often restricts certain services, still allows text messages to go through, while images and attachments are blocked. Network management tools, like those from GFI Software, reveal that throttling or blocking iMessage can inadvertently affect all push notifications on the network, disrupting other applications. The design of iMessage may have been intentional to prevent cellular carriers from blocking it without also hindering all push notifications, which could deter users from SMS. This architecture seems to protect iMessage from censorship in authoritarian regimes, where iPhones are popular. The implications for users and network administrators are significant, suggesting a parallel between how cellular carriers operate and the tactics of authoritarian governments in controlling communication.