Russia has imposed restrictions on voice calls made through the WhatsApp and Telegram messaging apps, marking its latest effort to tighten control over the internet.
The move is expected to affect WhatsApp’s estimated 96 million monthly users in Russia and Telegram’s more than 89 million users, according to Russian media monitoring service Mediascope.
In a statement on Wednesday, Russia’s media and internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, said the measure was necessary to combat crime.
“According to law enforcement agencies and numerous appeals from citizens, foreign messengers Telegram and WhatsApp have become the main voice services used to deceive and extort money, and to involve Russian citizens in sabotage and terrorist activities,” the regulator stated.
“Repeated requests to take countermeasures have been ignored by the owners of the messengers,” it added.
Moscow has demanded that the platforms provide access to user data upon law enforcement requests.
“Access to calls in foreign messengers will be restored after they start complying with Russian legislation,” Roskomnadzor said.
Although officials claimed the restriction applied only to voice calls, users in Russia also reported difficulties making video calls.
Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moscow has increased its grip on the Russian segment of the internet.
Security agencies have often alleged that Telegram was being used by Ukraine to recruit individuals or coordinate sabotage activities in Russia.
Last month, the Russian government passed a law penalising online users for seeking content deemed illegal by authorities.
Plans are also underway to replace popular messaging services with a domestic app called Max, which critics fear could grant the government greater access to user data.
A WhatsApp spokesperson said in a statement that the encrypted platform “defies government attempts to violate people’s right to secure communication, which is why Russia is trying to block it from over 100 million Russian people.”
In a statement to AFP, Telegram said it “actively combats misuse of its platform, including calls for sabotage or violence, as well as fraud,” and removes “millions of pieces of harmful content every day.”
Telegram, created by Russian tech entrepreneur Pavel Durov, has long faced accusations in various countries — including Russia — of not doing enough to tackle criminal activity on its platform.