Russian authorities are cracking down on Telegram again. The state communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, announced on Tuesday that it will slap the app with more restrictions because the company refuses to follow local laws. Officials claim the platform fails to protect personal data and does not do enough to stop fraudsters or terrorists.
This isn’t the first time the government has targeted the app. Last August, the watchdog started limiting voice and video calls on Telegram, similar to the restrictions it placed on WhatsApp. In December, they went a step further and blocked Apple’s FaceTime. Now, they say more “successive restrictions” are coming until the app falls in line.
The Kremlin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, told state media that it is a “great shame” the company won’t comply with Russian legislation. However, Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, is sticking to his guns. He posted on his own channel that the app will always protect user privacy and freedom of speech, no matter how much pressure the government applies.
For people living in Russia, Telegram is much more than just a chat app. It is the primary way everyone—from government officials and celebrities to the exiled opposition—gets their news. Even military bloggers say Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine rely on it for communication. In Moscow, regular users are already feeling the impact. Business owners complain that the app is slowing down, making it harder for them to reach clients and run their companies.
Durov believes the government has a hidden motive: pushing people toward a state-controlled alternative called MAX messenger. While the state claims MAX is a safe tool for accessing government services, critics worry it will make it easier for the police to spy on citizens. On top of the technical blocks, Russian courts are currently trying to hit Telegram with nearly $1 million in fines for refusing to delete content that the government dislikes. Russia previously tried and failed to block Telegram in 2018, but this new wave of restrictions shows the government is more determined than ever to control the digital space.
