Russian authorities, through the state media and internet regulator Roskomnadzor, have announced partial restrictions on voice calls for WhatsApp and Telegram, effective August 13, 2025. The stated reason for these restrictions is to combat criminal activities such as fraud, extortion, and involvement in subversive and terrorist activities. Roskomnadzor claims that the platforms have repeatedly ignored requests to implement countermeasures.
These restrictions are part of Russia's broader strategy to increase control over its digital landscape and promote national technological independence. The government is actively encouraging the adoption of its domestic messaging application, MAX, developed by VK. MAX is being positioned as a comprehensive platform, similar to China's WeChat, integrating messaging with government services, payments, and identity verification. While Roskomnadzor specified that only voice calls are affected, some users have reported disruptions to video call functionalities as well. The restrictions are expected to remain until the platforms comply with Russian legislation, including data access requests from law enforcement. WhatsApp, with an estimated 96 million monthly users in Russia, and Telegram, with over 89 million users, have both stated their commitment to user privacy and combating misuse on their platforms.
The promotion of MAX includes its mandatory pre-installation on new smartphones sold in Russia starting in September 2025. By July 2025, MAX had already registered over 2 million users. This development highlights a global trend of governments seeking to regulate digital communication, balancing national security priorities with user privacy and the operational frameworks of international tech companies.