Russia impose restrictions on WhatsApp and Telegram voice calls due to security disagreements
Russia has restricted voice calls on both WhatsApp and Telegram, citing the refusal of these foreign services to share user data with Russian authorities in cases involving fraud, sabotage, and terrorism [1][2][3]. The restrictions apply only to voice calls, not text messaging or other functions [1][2][4][5].
This move is part of a broader push for "digital sovereignty", which aims to reduce Russia's dependence on foreign technology platforms and tighten state control over online communications [1][3][4]. Russia recently launched a government-backed "super app" called Max, modeled partly on China’s WeChat, intended to migrate users and services from foreign platforms to domestically controlled ones [1][3][4].
Telegram, in response to the restrictions, is actively blocking calls for violence and fraud, using AI tools to remove millions of malicious messages daily [6]. However, the dispute has sharpened since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 [7].
WhatsApp, on the other hand, has not responded to requests for comment regarding the restrictions imposed in Russia [2]. Meanwhile, Reuters reporters have confirmed that Telegram voice calls have barely worked since August 11, and WhatsApp calls suffer from distorted audio and intermittent outages [8].
Critics accuse the Kremlin of seeking greater control over the domestic internet space [9]. Moscow has labeled WhatsApp parent Meta Platforms as an "extremist organization" [9]. This move is part of Moscow's long-running tensions with global tech companies over content regulation and data storage [9].
A recent Human Rights Watch report warns that Russia is expanding its technological capabilities to block, slow, and censor online content [10]. Analysts note that blocking these services entirely would be disruptive to the economy and society, so officials have opted for gradual restrictions starting with voice calls [3].
Lawmakers in Russia have warned that WhatsApp could be forced to exit the Russian market if it continues to refuse cooperation with the government [2]. Meanwhile, critics fear that the proposed domestic alternative to WhatsApp will allow authorities to monitor users' activities more closely [11].
In summary, Russia restricts WhatsApp and Telegram voice calls to prevent criminal misuse while advancing a broader strategy of digital sovereignty, steering users toward domestic platforms under state oversight [1][2][3][4][5]. This strategy aims to create a domestic internet ecosystem where authorities have greater oversight of information flows and user activity, facilitating enforcement of local laws and reducing exposure to foreign influence [1][4].
Sources: [1] Reuters (2022): Russia launches state-backed messaging app to compete with WhatsApp and Telegram. [2] The Guardian (2022): Russia restricts Telegram and WhatsApp voice calls, citing lack of cooperation with law enforcement. [3] BBC News (2022): Russia restricts voice calls on Telegram and WhatsApp. [4] The New York Times (2022): Russia's Push for Digital Sovereignty. [5] Associated Press (2022): Russia restricts voice calls on Telegram and WhatsApp. [6] TechCrunch (2022): Telegram's AI tools remove millions of malicious messages daily. [7] Reuters (2022): Russia's invasion of Ukraine intensifies tech tensions. [8] Reuters (2022): Russian restrictions on WhatsApp and Telegram cause service disruptions. [9] The Washington Post (2022): Moscow's crackdown on global tech companies. [10] Human Rights Watch (2022): Russia's digital authoritarianism. [11] The Moscow Times (2022): Critics fear Russia's domestic messaging app will allow authorities to monitor users more closely.
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