Russia: Restrictions on WhatsApp and Telegram
Russia has recently restricted voice and video calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, accusing these platforms of being used for fraud, extortion, and subversive activities. The state regulator, Roskomnadzor, stated that the apps failed to comply with repeated requests for cooperation.
Reactions from the Platforms
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WhatsApp (owned by Meta) denounced the move as an attack on Russians’ right to private and secure communication.
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Telegram emphasized that it already removes millions of harmful posts daily, but refuses to allow full state control over its platform.
Part of a Wider Strategy of Internet Control
These restrictions are part of a broader push for digital sovereignty:
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Russia carried out several mobile Internet shutdowns this summer in various regions, citing security concerns.
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A new law criminalizes even the search for content labeled as extremist, and the use of VPNs to bypass censorship is now heavily penalized.
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The government is promoting a domestic alternative app called Máx, which integrates messaging, public services, and payments, and will come preinstalled on all new smartphones sold in Russia.
Consequences
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For Russian citizens: loss of access to widely used communication tools, increased monitoring of online activity.
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For foreign tech companies: mounting pressure to comply with Russian rules or exit the market.
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For the global Internet: Russia moves closer to a closed, state-controlled model similar to China’s “Great Firewall.”
👉 In short: restricting WhatsApp and Telegram calls is not an isolated measure but another step toward building a tightly controlled, state-centered Russian Internet.
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