The head of Roskomnadzor, Andrey Lipov, confirmed that restrictions on calls made via WhatsApp and Telegram had an immediate effect. However, he noted that fraudsters quickly adapted, beginning to use Russian SIM cards to make calls from international roaming. This raises the question of whether such calls will also be restricted.
Roskomnadzor`s Stance and Media Interpretation
Several media outlets reported that Roskomnadzor might introduce partial restrictions on calls made from Russian SIM cards originating from abroad, citing an interview given by RKN head Andrey Lipov to Izvestia newspaper. However, the interview text does not explicitly state that these restrictions would apply to phone calls from Russian SIMs in international roaming. The regulator`s chief did discuss restrictions, but his statements were general and raised several questions.
When asked about the effectiveness of existing restrictions on calls via WhatsApp (owned by Meta, recognized as extremist and banned in Russia) and Telegram, Lipov affirmed a swift positive impact. He stated, «We managed to selectively restrict the functionality primarily used by fraudsters.» Nevertheless, the RKN head noted that fraudsters have now begun using Russian SIM cards to make calls from roaming.
Lipov further stated: «We are currently checking the work of operators and, based on our system`s data, are demanding that they clean their databases of fake users.» He provided no further details. Another remark from the RKN head is also noteworthy: «It would be logical for messengers themselves to impose default restrictions on calls made from abroad via messenger accounts registered to foreign SIM cards. Our telecom operators should act similarly when calls are made from foreign numbers over regular telephone networks.»
Expert Opinions on Call Restrictions
Experts were asked to review the Roskomnadzor head`s interview and clarify their understanding of which call restrictions were being discussed. However, no one could provide a clear or definitive answer. Nevertheless, German Klimenko, Chairman of the Digital Economy Development Fund, agreed to speculate on the topic of restricting calls from abroad to combat fraudsters:
Chairman of the Digital Economy Development Fund
«Honestly, I don`t know how harmful SIM cards taken abroad are, but there`s likely some connection. The very ability to make a call without being in Russia and to say, do, or influence something — and we understand there`s a concept of `voice hypnosis` — is probably possible. The other question is what Roskomnadzor will do with this knowledge. Whenever I travel, I always take my SIM card and make calls. Do I need to report this somewhere? It seems the operator automatically knows; it`s not a hidden story. Frankly, I don`t have an answer to why Roskomnadzor needs to restrict foreign SIMs; fraudsters can be here and there, and even through proxies, their traffic can appear to be Russian and use Russian SIM cards.»
Thus, after reviewing the interview, two key questions remain: Is Russia considering introducing restrictions on phone calls made from Russian SIM cards originating from abroad? And is Roskomnadzor genuinely proposing that Russian online platforms, including messengers, and telecom operators restrict calls coming from foreign SIM cards? As of the publication of this material, no response has been received from Roskomnadzor to our inquiry.
Evgeny Tsarev, Managing Partner at RTM Group and an expert in information security and IT law, offered his perspective on how call restrictions should be approached:
Managing Partner at RTM Group, expert in information security and IT law
«The general principle was that if a subscriber made a call, the telecom operator was obligated to establish the connection. Now, the situation is changing, meaning there are emerging obligations to block certain connections and identify fraudulent calls. The core problem lies precisely in how to correctly identify and block them. Call blocking must be limited and very careful, meaning only in cases where it is definitively confirmed that, for instance, a SIM card is currently being used by a subscriber for fraudulent purposes. In any case, this is quite a complex issue because the tools for detecting fraudulent calls are analytical, and they are prone to errors, both false positives and false negatives. This means some fraudulent calls might be missed, while at the same time, some legitimate calls from ordinary citizens could be blocked.»
Conclusion
For now, only one thing can be said: media outlets that reported Roskomnadzor advocating for restrictions on phone calls from abroad were, at the very least, premature. Alternatively, they may have intentionally used sensational and inaccurate headlines to attract attention to their publications.
Details regarding new call restriction measures will be revealed in due course. As the head of Roskomnadzor stated in the same Izvestia interview, the proposals have already been submitted to the government for inclusion in the second package of anti-fraud measures. These initiatives will eventually become law.
