Russian authorities announce ‘partial restriction’ on WhatsApp and Telegram calls

Russia is “partially restricting” calls on the messaging apps Telegram and WhatsApp “to combat criminal activity,” the country’s federal censor, Roskomnadzor, announced on Wednesday.

Citing law enforcement data and citizen complaints, Roskomnadzor claimed the two apps “have become the main voice services used to scam and extort money from Russians, as well as to recruit them for sabotage attacks and terrorist activities.” The watchdog said the companies behind the messengers ignored demands to “take countermeasures.”

“We inform you that, in order to combat criminals and based on law enforcement materials, measures are being taken to partially restricted calls on these foreign messaging apps. No other functions are being restricted,” the agency said.

The Digital Development Ministry, for its part, said calls on Telegram and WhatsApp will be restored once the services comply with Russian law. The ministry argued that restricting calls in these apps will help reduce the number of scam calls.