Russia’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, has taken steps to slow down and restrict access to the popular messaging app Telegram in the country. Users in Russia have reported experiencing service disruptions following this move, as reported by the Russian news outlet RBC. Roskomnadzor stated to RBC that it will continue implementing further restrictions on Telegram, citing concerns about fraud and criminal activities on the platform.
According to Reuters, Moscow-based Telegram users have faced issues with the app. One user, Anna, expressed her frustration, stating, “It’s very bad because all my friends and family use Telegram. I don’t know how I’m going to communicate with them because I don’t want to move to other platforms.”
Previously, Roskomnadzor had initiated partial blocks on Telegram and WhatsApp, alleging their involvement in extortion and terrorist activities. Additionally, Russia mandated phone and tablet manufacturers to pre-install the state-backed Max messaging app on devices sold in the region.
Telegram’s founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, has not publicly addressed the recent issues. However, his latest tweet criticized leaders of certain European nations for advocating social media bans and misinformation crackdowns.
Source: The Verge