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Russia Slows Telegram Nationwide, Pledges Rolling Restrictions and Fines

Officials are steering users to the state-backed Max app.

Overview

  • Russia’s telecom regulator Roskomnadzor confirmed throttling of Telegram over alleged violations of domestic law and said limits will continue until the issues are resolved.
  • Users across the country reported widespread disruptions, with Downdetector logging more than 11,000 complaints about slow performance and outages.
  • State news agency TASS reported Telegram faces roughly 64 million rubles in fines for allegedly refusing to remove prohibited content and failing to self-regulate.
  • Roskomnadzor accuses major messengers of weak personal-data protections and poor anti-fraud and anti-terror safeguards, claims Telegram rejects.
  • Telegram founder Pavel Durov called the curbs an attempt to force migration to Max, which is preinstalled on new devices in Russia and was developed by VK.