Messenger
Russia limits calls on WhatsApp and Telegram
Russia’s citizens are to be protected from fraudulent calls – this is how Moscow justifies the latest move to internet control. But it’s also about calls from enemy country.
Russia limits calls with the foreign messenger services WhatsApp and Telegram for the alleged defense against terrorists and fraudsters. The Russian telecommunications authority Roskomnadsor spoke in a message in Moscow of restrictions on language calls. However, users in Russia reported on the Downdetector fault website that video calls were also disturbed.
Other functions of WhatsApp and Telegram are not affected, said Roskomnadsor. But their telephone services would be used to cheat on Russian citizens to bruise money, to get involved in sabotage or terrorist activities, “it said. In fact, not only tricksters are active in the messengers, they also use Ukrainian secret services to contact Russia.
Russia: Measurement services should comply with Russian laws
The restrictions would be withdrawn if the foreign messenger services adhered to Russian laws, the Digital Ministry in Moscow said in the state agency.
Like Facebook or Instagram, WhatsApp belongs to the US group Meta from Mark Zuckerberg and refuses to share data with Russian authorities. Telegram was developed by the Russian Pawel Durow. Against Telegram there is a accusation in Russia, but also in other countries that the service is not doing enough against criminal users.
Since the beginning of the war against Ukraine in 2022, the Moscow leadership continues to have been expanding the control over the Russian part of the Internet. Foreign messenger services should be replaced by a local app called Max, but in which critics fear the authorities to access the data.
Dpa
RW
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
