US EditionWhatsApp accuses Moscow of trying to block secure communication for millions of Russians
Russian regulators cite sabotage and terrorism concerns to limit calls on WhatsApp and Telegram while promoting the government-backed Max app, affecting over 100 million users, officials said.
- On August 13, Roskomnadzor announced partial restrictions on voice and video calls via WhatsApp and Telegram across Russia.
- The restrictions follow accusations that these apps facilitate fraud, sabotage, and terrorism while their owners refuse law enforcement cooperation.
- Authorities aim to curb criminal activities and promote Max, a government-backed messenger app developed by VK, planned to be pre-installed on new smartphones.
- WhatsApp stated it will continue to protect end-to-end encrypted communication for users, noting the block affects over 100 million Russians and threatens secure messaging.
- This move highlights Moscow's broader effort to increase digital sovereignty by replacing foreign technologies with state-controlled platforms, raising concerns about net neutrality and surveillance.
21 Articles
21 Articles
On August 13, 2025, Roskomnadzor officially confirmed the "partial limitation" of calls at Telegram and WhatsApp Messengers. A few days earlier, Russian users began complaining about communication problems in these applications. The authorities explained the new restrictions on user care: the supposed blocking of calls at the Messengers should help in the fight against telephone fraud. The Medusa describes how users, experts and representatives …
WhatsApp accuses Moscow of trying to block secure communication for millions of Russians
WhatsApp accused Moscow of trying to block millions of Russians from accessing secure communication after calls on the messaging app were restricted, as Russia promotes home-grown social media platforms and seeks greater control over the country's internet space.
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