Russia placed limitations on calls on the WhatsApp and Telegram communication applications on Wednesday, stating that this was required to fight criminals, official media reported.
“In order to combat criminals, measures are being taken to partially restrict calls on these foreign messaging apps (WhatsApp and Telegram),” communications watchdog Roskomnadzor said, as quoted by the RIA and TASS news agencies.
The messenger apps have become “the main voice services used for fraud and extortion and for involving Russian citizens in subversive and terrorist activities,” the watchdog added.
The country’s security services have accused Ukraine of using Telegram to recruit or sabotage in Russia.
Moscow wants messengers to share data with law enforcement for fraud and terrorist investigations.
“Access to calls in foreign messengers will be restored after they start complying with Russian legislation,” Moscow’s digital ministry said.
In a statement sent to AFP, Telegram stated 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”.
Since its launch of an offensive in Ukraine, Moscow has drastically restricted press freedom and freedom of speech online.
“WhatsApp is private, end-to-end encrypted, and 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,” a spokesperson for Meta-owned WhatsApp told AFP.
No fewer than 100 million people in the country use WhatsApp for messages and calls, and the platform is concerned that this is an effort to push them onto platforms more vulnerable to government surveillance, according to the spokesperson.
