Written by DaSHA Litvinova
In an attempt to strengthen control over the internet, Russian officials said on Wednesday that they were partially limiting calls on the messaging applications Telegram and WhatsApp.
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In a statement, Roskomnadzor, the government’s media and internet watchdog, defended the action as essential to combating crime, claiming that, in response to numerous citizen appeals and law enforcement agencies, foreign messaging apps like Telegram and WhatsApp have emerged as the primary voice services used to defraud and extort money, as well as to enlist Russian citizens in terrorist and sabotage activities.
The agency also said that the messengers’ owners had disregarded numerous requests to implement countermeasures. Neither platform immediately provided a comment.
According to a statement from a Whatsapp representative, Russia is attempting to restrict the encrypted messaging software from more than 100 million Russians because it resists government efforts to infringe on people’s right to safe communication.
Russian authorities have been actively working to control the internet in a number of ways for a long time. They have enacted restrictive legislation over the years and prohibited noncompliant websites and platforms. Modern technology has made it possible to track and control internet traffic.
Although virtual private network services can still be used to get around restrictions, they are also frequently prohibited.
This summer, authorities further limited internet access by shutting down a large number of cellular internet connections. Although analysts said the policy was just another effort to tighten internet control, officials insisted it was necessary to stop Ukrainian drone assaults.
This month, Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development and Communications announced that it was developing a white list of crucial websites and services that consumers may access during outages in collaboration with internet providers.
Russian-installed officials warned Wednesday that mobile internet shutdowns in Crimea, which Moscow unlawfully seized from Ukraine in 2014, could continue indefinitely.
Last month, the government passed legislation penalizing users for looking for content they believe to be illegal. It also threatened to take down WhatsApp, one of the most frequently used platforms in the nation, and launch a new national messaging program that is probably going to be closely watched.
Earlier this week, Russian media reported that calls were being interrupted on Telegram and WhatsApp, with users reporting that they couldn’t hear each other’s voices or that calls weren’t connecting.
With more than 96 million monthly users, WhatsApp was the most popular platform in Russia in July, according to Mediascope, a Russian media monitoring firm. With over 89 million users, Telegram was a close second.
Both platforms have already encountered Russian officials. Between 2018 and 2019, the Kremlin attempted, but was unable, to stop Telegram. The government banned popular social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram and declared its parent firm, Meta, which also owns WhatsApp, to be extremist following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Lawmaker Anton Gorelkin stated in July that WhatsApp should get ready to exit the Russian market and that MAX, a new national messenger created by the Russian social media platform VK, would replace it.
MAX was released for beta testing but hasn’t gained much traction despite being marketed as a one-stop shop for communications, online government services, making payments, and more. By July, more than 2 million people had enrolled, according to the Tass news agency.
According to its terms and conditions, it will provide authorities with user data upon request, and a recent law mandates that it be preinstalled on all Russian cellphones. Moving communications and blogs to MAX is strongly promoted for state organizations, officials, and enterprises.
According to the Ministry of Digital Development and Communications, if Telegram and WhatsApp adhere to Russian law, call access could be restored. It made clear that Roskomnadzor’s limited restrictions only extended to audio calls.
