Telegram and WhatsApp may be restricted in Russia

In Russia, two popular messengers — Telegram and WhatsApp — may face partial restrictions. This was reported by RBC, citing data from Roskomnadzor.

According to the agency, these platforms are increasingly being used for fraud, extortion, and assisting terrorist activities. The inspection was launched based on numerous complaints from citizens and reports from law enforcement agencies.

“The owners of the messengers ignored repeated demands to take measures against criminals. Therefore, a decision was made to impose partial restrictions on the operation of foreign messengers,” the Roskomnadzor statement said.

It is noted that on October 21, users in southern regions of Russia — including Krasnodar, Rostov, Astrakhan, and Stavropol — experienced interruptions in Telegram and WhatsApp services.

Currently, WhatsApp remains the most popular mobile application in the country, with more than 96 million users. Telegram ranks second with an audience of about 89 million.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, at least 140,000 crimes have been committed through these messengers over the past six months. The ministry also described them as “a recruitment tool used by foreign intelligence services to target Russian citizens” and urged users to be cautious in online communication.

Experts believe that if the restrictions are implemented, they could significantly affect Russia’s digital communication landscape.

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