Voice Call Limits Imposed on Telegram, WhatsApp in Russia

As part of its latest effort to increase the control over the internet amid the conflict in Ukraine, Russia has placed limits on voice calls made using the messaging applications Telegram and WhatsApp.

According to Russian media monitoring organisation Mediascope, the restriction is expected to impact Telegram’s over 89 million users and WhatsApp’s estimated 96 million monthly users in Russia.

Russia has previously pushed for the state authorities to put a stop on the instant messaging apps Telegram and WhatsApp, which are “owned by foreigners.” It has now been reported that the nation has partially restricted voice calls made through the two messengers. Russia’s internet and media regulator has also reportedly justified the limitation by pointing to illegal activities such as deception and extortion. However, it has been suggested that citizens can get around this ban by using a virtual private network (VPN) service to bypass this restriction.

Russia’s Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology, and Mass Media, Roskomnadzor, has partially restricted voice calls conducted using Telegram and WhatsApp, according to a report published Wednesday by the state-run news agency TASS. The decision was made to deal with crime in the nation, according to the regulator. According to Roskomnadzor’s statement to TASS, all other features of the two messaging applications are still available for use.

“We would like to notify you that steps are being taken to partially restrict calls in these international messengers in order to stop criminals, in accordance with the materials of law enforcement agencies. The regulatory organisation informed the Russian news agency, “No additional limitations on their operation are imposed.”

The regulator claimed that the country’s law enforcement agencies and a number of individuals have complained about the growing use of the voice calling services of the UAE-based Telegram and the Meta-owned WhatsApp to scam and extort money from Russians. Furthermore, it has been claimed that the two instant messaging platforms were used to recruit people for terrorist unlawful destruction of activities.

Roskomnadzor claimed that its repeated calls for Telegram and WhatsApp to put in place protective measures against fake and bad actors had gone unanswered. However, it has been suggested that employing a VPN provider helps get around the restriction on voice calls on Telegram and WhatsApp.

Russian lawmakers have already urged the government authorities to put an end to WhatsApp use and encourage the use of locally created apps. It was noted that in March 2022, Meta, the parent firm of WhatsApp, was found guilty and convicted of engaging in extremist operations within Russia. After this, the IT giant was added to the list of “terrorists and extremists” by the nation’s financial monitoring body.

The restriction will be in place until the platforms listens to Russian legislation, according to Roskomnadzor. “Once foreign messengers begin to comply with Russian legislation, access to calls will be restored,” the agency said.

There are other instant messaging services that have experienced issues in Russia besides WhatsApp. Roskomnadzor declared in 2022 that it would impose penalties on five international tech firms, including Telegram. At the time, the regulator said that these businesses had neglected to take down content that had been flagged as unlawful. Until these internet companies cooperated with the ruling, these measures were in place indefinitely.

Some users stated that video calls were also affected, despite authorities claiming that just voice calls were banned.

Moscow has increased its control over the Russian internet since commencing its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Security agencies have frequently claimed that Ukraine recruits individuals or plans sabotage activities inside Russia using Telegram.

Russia passed a law this month that penalises internet users for content search that the government deems illegal.

Additionally, officials intend to replace well-known messaging apps with Max, a locally produced substitute that some worry will give the government more access to user data.

“Our statement on the news about the Russian government’s attempt to block WhatsApp: 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 Russians,” the company tweeted in response to the news on its official Instagram story. We will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure that everyone, including those in Russia, has access to end-to-end encrypted communication.

Telegram “actively combats wrong use of its platform, including calls for sabotage or violence, as well as fraud,” the company said in a statement to AFP, adding that it deletes “millions of pieces of harmful content every day.”