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Russia blocks Telegram and Whatsapp [1]

['Rob Beschizza']

Date: 2026-02-12  

Whatsapp and Telegram were among the last encrypted communications platforms permitted in Russia, but that ended yesterday: the two apps are now blocked there, authorities confirmed. They encouraged people to use unencrypted domestic alternatives instead. Here's CNN on the Telegram block:

On Tuesday, the government said it was restricting access to Telegram for the "protection of Russian citizens," accusing the app of refusing to block content authorities consider "criminal and terrorist." Russia's telecommunications regulator Roskomnadzor said in a statement that it would continue to restrict the operation of the Telegram messenger "until violations of Russian law are eliminated."

And here's CNBC on the block on Whatsapp, owned by Meta. "Max is an accessible alternative, a developing messenger, a national messenger. And it is available on the market for citizens," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Thursday, news agency Ria Novosti reported.

Telegram is a remarkable target for Russian censorship: the app is used by millions of people in Russia, including the military, top level public officials, state media services and government bodies including the Kremlin and Roskomnadzor itself. The app's Russian-born founder Pavel Durov said in a statement Tuesday that Russia's attempt to restrict Telegram would fail, writing that "Telegram stands for freedom of speech and privacy, no matter the pressure."

Russia claims that these platforms don't protect personal data and that there are "no effective measures to counter fraud or the use of the messaging service for criminal and terrorist purposes." If the unencrypted services that it controls don't seem likely to appeal much to criminals and terrorists, consider who else they'd like to keep tabs on.

Previously:

• Telegram CEO arrested in France

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