Russia taking measures to partially restrict calls on Telegram, WhatsApp to counter criminals - telecoms watchdog

MOSCOW. Aug 13 (Interfax) - Calls on the Telegram and WhatsApp messengers are being partially restricted in accordance with law enforcement agencies' materials to counter criminals, Russia's telecoms watchdog Roskomnadzor said.

"According to law enforcement agencies' information and numerous reports from citizens, the foreign messengers Telegram and WhatsApp have become the main voice services used for deceit and extortion and involvement of Russian citizens in sabotage and terrorist activities. The repeated demands for countermeasures to be taken have been ignored by the owners of the messengers," the watchdog's press service said on Wednesday.

"We are informing that measures are being taken to counter criminals in accordance with the law enforcement agencies' materials to partially restrict calls on these foreign messengers. No other restrictions of their functions are being introduced," Roskomnadzor said.

"The fight against criminals' calls is being conducted consistently," Roskomnadzor said.

"The Antifraud system, which blocks calls from spoofed numbers in traditional phone networks of Russian communication operators, has been working since 2024. As a result, practically all such calls have gone to foreign messengers, which are refusing to ensure the security of Russian users and society," Roskomnadzor said.

In the past few days, since the weekend, users in Russia have started massively reporting problems with calls via Telegram and WhatsApp.