Russia has announced fresh restrictions on WhatsApp and Telegram, accusing the foreign-owned messaging giants of refusing to share information with law enforcement in cases linked to fraud and terrorism. The move is being seen as part of Moscow’s broader push to tighten control over the country’s internet space.
Tensions with Foreign Tech Grow
The Russian government has been at odds with foreign tech companies for years, clashing over data storage, content moderation, and compliance with local laws. These tensions escalated after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Critics argue the latest measures are part of the Kremlin’s strategy to expand state control over online communications.
President Vladimir Putin has already approved the creation of a state-backed messaging app, integrated with government services, as part of Russia’s goal to achieve “digital sovereignty” and reduce reliance on foreign platforms.
Partial Ban on Calls
According to the communications regulator Roskomnadzor, calls made via WhatsApp and Telegram will now face partial restrictions. “In order to counteract criminals, measures are being taken to partially restrict calls on these foreign messengers,” it said via Interfax. The agency clarified that no other functions of the apps are currently restricted.
Russia’s digital ministry added that call access would be restored only after both companies comply with Russian laws.
WhatsApp & Telegram Respond
A spokesperson for Meta, which owns WhatsApp, said the app is private, end-to-end encrypted, and resists government attempts to undermine secure communication. “This is why Russia is trying to block it from over 100 million people,” Meta said, adding it would continue efforts to provide secure messaging to users in Russia.
Telegram responded by saying it actively fights misuse of its platform, including calls for violence and fraud, and removes millions of harmful posts daily.
Impact Already Felt
Reports suggest the restrictions are already affecting users. Since August 11, Telegram voice calls have barely worked, while WhatsApp calls have been disrupted with intermittent sound and a metallic buzzing noise.
The ministry said both companies had ignored repeated requests to prevent their platforms from being used for illegal activities.
Compliance Demands & Political Pressure
Anton Gorelkin, deputy head of the lower house’s IT committee, said WhatsApp and Telegram would have to set up legal entities in Russia and cooperate with Roskomnadzor and law enforcement before the restrictions could be lifted.
Meta was declared an extremist organisation in Russia in 2022, but WhatsApp had remained operational despite some fines for failing to remove banned content. Last month, Gorelkin suggested WhatsApp should prepare to exit the Russian market. Another lawmaker went as far as calling its presence a national security threat.
Critics Warn of Surveillance & Censorship
Skeptics believe the planned state-backed messenger could track user activity and say Russia might intentionally slow WhatsApp to push people toward the new platform. Human Rights Watch recently warned that the government is increasing its technological capabilities to block or throttle unwanted websites and censorship circumvention tools, giving it more control over Russia’s online environment.
