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Russia has started restricting certain communications on WhatsApp and Telegram, tightening its grip on the foreign-owned encrypted messaging services as part of its wider bid to exert greater control over the internet.
The state’s digital regulator alleged the platforms were being misused for “sabotage and terrorist activities” and accused their owners of refusing to share information with law enforcement, the Interfax news agency reported.
Moscow’s disputes with international tech companies have simmered for years, particularly over data storage and content regulations. Tensions escalated sharply after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with critics arguing that the Kremlin is moving to consolidate its authority over the country’s online space.
President Vladimir Putin has backed the creation of a state-run messaging platform that would integrate with government services, part of a push for what officials term “digital sovereignty”, promoting domestic technology while reducing reliance on foreign applications.
“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,” the platform said in a statement.
“We will keep doing all we can to make end-to-end encrypted communication available to people everywhere, including in Russia."
Telegram, meanwhile, said its moderators were deploying AI tools to track public channels and remove vast amounts of harmful content daily. “Telegram actively combats harmful use of its platform including calls for sabotage or violence and fraud,” the company said.
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View AllWith inputs from agencies