Roskomnadzor has implemented partial restrictions on calls within popular messaging applications WhatsApp and Telegram. The agency declared that these measures are intended to combat cyber fraudsters actively targeting Russian citizens. The restrictions may be revised if the application owners meet certain conditions. This article delves into the rationale behind the Russian authorities` decision and how it is expected to safeguard the country`s residents from criminal activities.
Call Limitations on Telegram and WhatsApp are Partial
Roskomnadzor has characterized the implemented restrictions as partial, although the specific scope of this term remains unclarified. It has been noted, however, that this measure is currently the only action being taken to influence the situation.
«We inform that, to combat criminals and in accordance with law enforcement documentation, measures are being implemented to partially restrict calls within these foreign messengers. No other functional limitations are being introduced,» stated Roskomnadzor.
The Ministry of Digital Development (Mintsifry) has endorsed Roskomnadzor`s position, asserting that the decision is anticipated to «positively influence the reduction of fraudulent calls.»
Decision May Be Reviewed
The agency reported that the «Anti-fraud» system, effectively deployed by all telecommunication operators, successfully intercepts 90 percent of calls originating from spoofed numbers. Nevertheless, criminals have responded by escalating their activities within messengers, platforms that telecommunication companies cannot regulate.
Mintsifry asserted that «foreign messaging platforms, including Telegram and WhatsApp, despite repeated warnings from Russian authorities, continue to refuse compliance with Russian legislation. Notably, they do not furnish information in response to law enforcement inquiries, not only for widespread fraud incidents but also concerning the planning and execution of terrorist acts within the Russian Federation.»
Calls on WhatsApp and Telegram restricted in Russia by Roskomnadzor`s decision
Russian authorities have suggested that access to calls within messaging applications could be reinstated. Nevertheless, Mintsifry clarified that this hinges upon the messengers` «fulfillment of requirements for adherence to Russian legislation.»
Telegram Reacts to Call Restriction Decision
In response to Roskomnadzor`s directive, Telegram`s administration affirmed that the messenger «actively combats malicious utilization of its platform, encompassing calls for sabotage, violence, and fraud.» The service`s press office further elaborated, «Moreover, Telegram has, for the first time, introduced granular privacy settings for calls, empowering every Telegram user to select who can call them or to disable incoming calls altogether.»
Legislative representatives demonstrated comprehension concerning the decision to restrict calls. Anton Nemkin, a member of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, conveyed to RIA Novosti his agreement that the messengers` reluctance to comply with Russian laws precipitated this development.
The deputy remarked, «It is precisely via these foreign platforms that fraudsters daily target our citizens. It is particularly pertinent to highlight WhatsApp, which is controlled by Meta (an organization recognized as extremist in Russia), and has been repeatedly implicated in transferring user data to Western intelligence agencies and facilitating the propagation of destructive information.»
According to authorities, residents of the country will now be less threatened by fraudsters.
According to Nemkin, the proportion of attacks targeting Russians through WhatsApp has escalated 3.5-fold compared to the previous year, consequently rendering «number and bank employee identity spoofing, phishing, and data theft an intrinsic element» of the messenger`s exploitation by criminals.
Sergey Boyarsky, who chairs the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, echoed this sentiment. On his Telegram channel, he observed that the owners of these messaging applications have, in effect, become «accomplices to criminals.»
The parliamentarian asserted, «They are, in essence, passively assisting a Ukrainian `call-center army,` comprising tens of thousands of hired personnel, in defrauding the Russian populace and destabilizing our society. If voice calls in foreign messaging applications have become the principal instrument for fraudsters, then Roskomnadzor`s decision to degrade their functionality is both correct and expedient.»
Restrictions Introduced Amidst Development of National Messenger Max
In 2024, Russian citizens were predominantly targeted by fraud through traditional communication methods—specifically phone calls and SMS—which constituted 45.6 percent of all reported fraud cases, according to the Central Bank`s (CB) statistics. Nonetheless, the CB observed a declining trend in the prevalence of fraud perpetrated via these channels.
Messaging applications ranked second in the CB`s statistics, representing 15.7 percent of cyber fraud instances last year. However, data from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs indicated that by early August 2025, Telegram and WhatsApp had indeed emerged as the primary platforms for cybercrimes.
From July 28 to August 3, 414 criminal acts were recorded on Telegram and 313 on WhatsApp. The social network VKontakte was utilized for 19 such crimes, Odnoklassniki for one, while the new Max messenger registered zero.
The legislation for the creation of a national messenger was signed into law by Vladimir Putin on June 24. The development of Max is being undertaken by VK company. The messenger`s official unveiling is slated for early autumn. Despite the application currently being in beta testing, it already features channels from prominent domestic media outlets and political figures.
Additionally, VK`s development is slated for integration with «Gosuslugi» (the Public Services portal). Mintsifry confirmed that all requisite security stipulations have already been synchronized with the FSB.
Russia Has Raised Concerns with Other Services
Russian authorities consistently impose compliance mandates with Russian legislation upon various digital resources. The most recent significant service to become inaccessible to the nation`s inhabitants was YouTube, the video hosting platform owned by Google. Roskomnadzor attributed the platform`s performance degradation to technical issues originating from Google.
The agency declared in December 2024, «Google has not formally conducted operations in Russia for two years, having opted for bankruptcy proceedings for its Russian subsidiary and discontinuing support for its caching server infrastructure within our communication networks. This strategy results in a deterioration of the video service`s quality.»
YouTube also faced criticism for its numerous infringements of Russian legislation and for demonstrating disrespect towards the nation and its populace, which served as «grounds for implementing measures against» the hosting platform. Alexander Khinshtein, then serving as the head of the Duma Committee on Information Policy, had articulated comparable views in July 2024.
Khinshtein subsequently observed, «`Degradation` of YouTube is an unavoidable measure, directed not against Russian users, but against the administration of a foreign resource that persistently believes it can violate and disregard our legislation with impunity.»
Additionally, in March 2022, the social network X (formerly Twitter) was blocked within the country, and access to Facebook and Instagram platforms was curtailed. Their proprietor, the American company Meta, has been officially classified as extremist and consequently prohibited in Russia.
