Russia Restricts Telegram After WhatsApp Ban

Kokila Chokkanathan
🧑‍💻 What Happened: whatsapp Was Banned in Russia

  • Russia has officially blocked access to WhatsApp, the extremely popular messaging service, claiming it failed to comply with Russian laws.
  • Authorities want users to switch to a state‑backed app called MAX, which is pre‑installed on new phones and lacks the strong end‑to‑end encryption whatsapp offered. Critics say this could increase surveillance.
  • Meta (WhatsApp’s parent company) says the move is an effort to isolate users from private communication.
📱 “Telegram Is Also Facing Restrictions”

🟡 Telegram Is Being Slowed Down Nationwide

  • Russia’s communications regulator Roskomnadzor has imposed additional restrictions on Telegram, including deliberately slowing down the service across the country. Users have reported delays and performance issues.
🟠 Why russia Says It’s Doing This

  • Officials claim Telegram hasn’t complied with Russian laws, especially concerning fraud, extremist content, or data access demanded by authorities.
🟥 Telegram Fines and Legal Pressure

  • A Russian court fined Telegram about 11 million roubles (~$140,000) for refusing to remove content that authorities labelled extremist.
🔥 Widespread Impact & Criticism

  • Telegram is one of Russia’s most widely used apps (millions rely on it daily), so restrictions have sparked rare public criticism from soldiers, bloggers, and independent media figures.
📌 Why This Is Significant

🔎 Shift from Foreign to State‑Controlled Platforms

  • The crackdown on whatsapp and Telegram reflects a broader effort to replace foreign communication tools with state‑regulated alternatives.
🤖 Control & Surveillance Risks

  • Unlike encrypted platforms like whatsapp and Telegram, Russia’s state app MAX can share user data more easily with authorities — raising privacy concerns.
📵 Potential Full Block on the Horizon

  • Officials have warned that if Telegram does not data-align with Russian legal requirements, it could data-face a complete ban — similar to WhatsApp.
🧠 In Simple Terms

  • First, russia blocked WhatsApp after Meta didn’t meet government demands.
  • Now, Telegram — once mostly untouched — is being restricted and slowed down because authorities say its services don’t meet local laws.
  • The goal appears to be pushing users toward a state‑government alternative that authorities can fully monitor.
 

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