Russia announced curbs on calls on the WhatsApp and Telegram messenger apps on Wednesday saying this was necessary to fight criminality, state media reported.
"In order to combat criminals, measures are being taken to partially restrict calls on these foreign messaging apps (WhatsApp and Telegram)," communications watchdog Roskomnadzor said, as quoted by the RIA and TASS news agencies.
The messenger apps have become "the main voice services used for fraud and extortion, and for involving Russian citizens in subversive and terrorist activities," the watchdog added.
Last month, President Vladimir Putin approved a law to create a state-run messaging app linked to government services, aiming to cut Russia’s reliance on apps like WhatsApp and Telegram.
Russia has long aimed for “digital sovereignty” by promoting its own services. This effort sped up after some Western tech companies left the country following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russian security services have frequently claimed that Ukraine was using Telegram to recruit people or commit sabotage acts in Russia.
Moscow wants the messengers to provide access to data by request from law enforcement, not only for fraud probes but also for investigating activities that Russia describes as terrorist ones.
"Access to calls in foreign messengers will be restored after they start complying with Russian legislation," Russia's digital ministry said.
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