Russian officials have now begun restricting access to Telegram, one of Moscow’s most popular social media platforms. This comes as the government tries to push citizens toward some of the state-owned alternatives to foreign technology platforms, CNN reported.
On Tuesday (local time), the Russian government announced it was restricting access to Telegram to “protect Russian citizens,” accusing the app of refusing to block content that authorities consider “criminal and terrorist.” Telecommunications regulator Roskomnadzor said in a statement that it would continue to restrict the messaging platform’s operation “until violations of Russian law are eliminated.”
He said that citizens’ personal data is not protected on Telegram, adding that the messaging platform does not take any measures against fraud or the use of the platform for criminal and terrorist purposes.
Following accusations from Russian authorities, Telegram denied the claims and said it was actively fighting malicious use of the platform.
Telegram faces a fine in Russia
According to TASS News, Telegram faces a fine of 64 million rubles ($828,000) after allegedly refusing to remove restricted content from the platform and failing to self-regulate.
Russia’s attempt to limit Telegram would fail: Pavel Durov
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Russian-born founder of the messaging platform, Pavel Durov, said the country’s attempt to limit the platform would fail, adding that the platform stands for freedom of expression and privacy regardless of pressure. He said Moscow’s decision to limit access to the platform is an attempt to move citizens into a state-controlled app that Durov says is designed for surveillance and political censorship.
Read also | A year after the arrest, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov called the French accusations “absurd”
Russians face disruption of Telegram use
After the restrictions were imposed, Telegram users across Russia reported disruptions, with thousands complaining that the messaging app was not working or running slower than usual, the report said, citing data from the digital services monitoring website Downdetector. The site reported over 11,000 complaints within 24 hours.
Is Telegram a target of censorship?
The report suggests that the app is a notable target of censorship by Russian authorities. The app is used by millions of people across Russia, from top officials, state media services and government bodies to the general public.
Read also | Amnesty chief calls on European states to stand up to Trump’s ‘bullying’
In a report criticizing the restrictions, Amnesty International said: “As usual, the Russian authorities are resorting to the bluntest tool in their toolbox of digital repression: censorship and obstruction under the guise of protecting people’s rights and interests. Blocking or slowing down Telegram has little to do with keeping people safe from crime or fraud online and much more to do with further restrictions on their freedom and ability to communicate.”
He added: “These restrictions appear to be part of a wider tightening of state control over online communications in Russia, which has already seen other messaging services blocked or disrupted. The moves have forced millions of users to rely on circumvention tools to communicate freely – or use less secure, state-sponsored alternatives.”
Russian state-controlled Max, an alternative to Telegram
Max is a state-run alternative to Telegram in Russia. A CNN report suggests that the Russian government is now mandating that smartphone companies pre-install the app on mobile phones and tablets sold in the country. Max is similar to other social media apps where users can message each other, send money and even make audio and video calls.
Read also | Frozen assets on table – Putin meets Kushner, Witkoff over war in Ukraine
The app was developed by VKontakte (VK), which Durov co-founded before he sold his shares and left Russia in 2014. This was after Durov said the Kremlin had asked the site to hand over Ukrainian users’ data. VK is now owned by the state.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time that Russian authorities have targeted Telegram, and that the country’s efforts to move its citizens away from external apps goes back nearly a decade.