Russia has activated a partial restriction on calls carried out via WhatsApp and Telegram. Communications regulator Roskomnadzor maintains that the goal is to curb scams, extortion, and other organized criminal activities through these platforms.
According to the agency, The measure does not affect the exchange of messages and for now is limited to voice and video services. Authorities emphasize that full access to calls will be restored if companies comply with Russian law and cooperate with law enforcement requests.
What changes for users?
In practice, Instability or blockages are expected in voice and video calls made from both apps, while the chat continues to function normally. Since the weekend, user complaints about call failures have multiplied, and according to data reported by incident portals, thousands of calls were detected concentrated in the morning slots.
Roskomnadzor stresses that No other general limitations will apply to WhatsApp or Telegram.The regulator frames this intervention after the implementation in 2024 of an anti-fraud system that blocks phishing calls on telephone networks, which would have shifted scammers toward messengers.
The reasons and legal framework invoked by Moscow
For the regulator, WhatsApp and Telegram have become primary channels for fraud and extortion., and even tools to recruit citizens for acts of sabotage or terrorism. Authorities say the platforms have ignored repeated requests to implement more robust countermeasures.
The Ministry of Digital Development has indicated that Calls will resume when companies fully comply with Russian law., which includes the ability to address requests for access to information in fraud and national security investigations. This line aligns with a more rigid framework for controlling online speech implemented in recent years.
What WhatsApp and Telegram say
From WhatsApp, The company reminds that communications are protected with end-to-end encryption and resists government attempts to weaken user privacy. The platform assures that it will continue working to keep its technology available in Russia, where it estimates it has more than 100 million users.
Telegram, meanwhile, It claims to actively combat misuse of its service. and removes thousands of pieces of harmful content every day. The company maintains that it enforces its policies to reduce scams and abuse, while preserving the security of legitimate communications.
Figures, complaints and scope of the fraud
Russian authorities report a spike in crime: More than 448.000 victims of online fraud in 2024, with losses exceeding 200.000 billion rubles. At the same time, the option to auto-block credit applications was enabled to prevent fraudulent transactions, a feature adopted by millions of people.
Political estimates of the impact on specific platforms have also been circulated. A member of parliament who coordinates digitalization initiatives stated that, Since 2024, scam attacks on WhatsApp users have increased 3,5-fold., with compromised accounts and impersonation of bank employees as recurring practices.
This move coincides with a broader push to build a digital ecosystem under local controlAmong the measures is the launch of MAX, a state-owned messaging app that the government plans to pre-install on cell phones sold in the country as a more "manageable" alternative to foreign messengers.
The struggle with platforms is not new. In 2018, an attempt was made to block Telegram for denying encryption keys. And although the ban was lifted in 2020, tensions continued: in 2022, Meta was classified as an “extremist organization” and Facebook and Instagram were blocked, and Telegram was recently fined for failing to locate Russian user data on its servers in the country.
Short and medium-term scenario
While the restriction lasts, Operators could apply selective technical filters that degrade or impede voice and video traffic on these services. Experts point out that this situation could encourage users to move to domestic alternatives and reduce the scope of unmonitored encrypted communications.
For the average user, Calls may experience dropouts, latency, or failures, while messages remain. Companies and professionals that rely on these tools for customer service or sales would be wise to facilitate alternative channels (traditional telephone service, other locally approved apps, or corporate video conferencing) to ensure continuity.
The panorama that is drawn is that of a partial block focused on WhatsApp and Telegram calls, justified by Moscow as a response to fraud and conditioned on "compliance" by the platforms. Against the backdrop of digital sovereignty and new state-owned apps, the actual scope and duration of the restrictions will depend on technical and legal negotiations between the parties.