Russia Limits WhatsApp, Telegram Calls Over Crime and Security Concerns

Russia has introduced new restrictions on voice calls made through WhatsApp and Telegram, citing concerns over criminal activity and national security threats.

State communications watchdog Roskomnadzor confirmed on Wednesday that the partial ban is aimed at curbing fraud, extortion, and recruitment activities allegedly coordinated through the messaging platforms.

“These foreign messenger apps have become the primary tools for criminal schemes and for drawing Russian citizens into sabotage and terrorist plots,” the agency said, according to state media outlets RIA and TASS.

The move comes as Moscow intensifies pressure on tech companies to comply with its demands for data access. Officials insist that WhatsApp and Telegram must grant law enforcement agencies access to call data not only for fraud investigations but also for cases Russia classifies as terrorism-related.

“Access will be restored once these services comply with Russian legislation,” the country’s digital ministry added.

In response, Telegram stated it already removes “millions of harmful posts daily” and actively combats content promoting violence or fraud. Meanwhile, Meta-owned WhatsApp reiterated that its end-to-end encryption prevents any government from intercepting private calls, calling the restrictions “an attack on secure communication.”

More than 100 million Russians rely on WhatsApp for calls and messaging, raising fears that the clampdown is intended to push users toward platforms more open to state surveillance.

The restrictions are the latest in a series of steps taken by Moscow to tighten control over online communications since the start of its military campaign in Ukraine, which has already seen sweeping curbs on press freedom and digital speech.