Russia Limits WhatsApp and Telegram Voice Calls Amid New Restrictions

Russia’s media and internet regulator stated that restricting WhatsApp and Telegram voice calls is necessary to combat crime.

Russia has imposed partial restrictions on voice calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, citing the need to combat criminal activity such as extortion and fraud. The country’s media and internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, clarified that all other functionalities of the messaging apps remain unaffected.

According to TASS, the restrictions were implemented following recommendations from law enforcement agencies. Users in Russia can reportedly bypass the voice call limitations by using virtual private networks (VPNs). Roskomnadzor emphasized that no additional features of these “foreign-owned” messengers are restricted, and the measure targets only voice call functionality.