Overview
- Russia’s telecom regulator said phased curbs are intended to compel Telegram’s compliance with national law and to protect citizens from scams and criminal activity.
- Authorities accuse the service of failing to do enough to prevent terrorist and other illicit uses in violation of Russian requirements.
- Telegram founder Pavel Durov denounced the plan as a restriction of citizens’ freedoms and affirmed the platform’s commitment to free expression and privacy.
- Pro-Kremlin and military-observer accounts warned the restrictions could blunt Russia’s information reach abroad and advised followers to shift conversations to Max.
- The move extends a broader clampdown that has largely blocked WhatsApp since January, limited YouTube access to VPNs, and penalized VPN promotion and searches for content labeled extremist.