Russia is restricting WhatsApp, Telegram voice calls, here's why

WhatsApp, Telegram

Russia’s internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, has begun “partially” restricting calls made through WhatsApp and Telegram, claiming the services are being used for scams, extortion, and recruiting citizens into sabotage or terrorist activities. The agency said repeated requests for action had been ignored by the platforms’ owners, according to a report by Associated Press.

WhatsApp responded that it resists government attempts to undermine secure communication — a stance it says is behind Moscow’s move to limit the app for over 100 million Russian users. Telegram has not commented on the matter as of now.

The restrictions are the latest step in a long-running campaign to bring Russia’s online space under tighter state oversight. Over the past decade, authorities have passed laws to block non-compliant platforms, perfected tools to monitor traffic, and routinely targeted virtual private networks used to bypass censorship.

Recent measures have included widespread mobile internet shutdowns, officially justified as a defence against Ukrainian drone strikes. In practice, experts argue, they serve to deepen state control. Officials are also working on a “white list” of approved sites accessible during such blackouts.

In Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, officials warned that mobile internet shutdowns could continue indefinitely.

The government has also introduced laws criminalising certain online searches and promoted a state-backed messaging app, expected to be heavily monitored. Reports of disrupted calls on WhatsApp and Telegram emerged earlier this week, with users complaining about failed connections or muted conversations.

According to Mediascope data from July, WhatsApp is Russia’s most popular platform with over 96 million monthly users, closely followed by Telegram with more than 89 million.