Russian Regulator Escalates Pressure on Telegram, Citing Security Concerns

Russia's communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, has declared it will intensify a series of restrictions against the Telegram messaging service. The agency states the measures are necessary to force the platform's compliance with national laws, which it says Telegram has consistently failed to meet.

In an official statement, Roskomnadzor outlined its grievances. It claims Telegram does not adequately protect Russian users' personal data, lacks effective tools to combat fraud, and is used for criminal and terrorist activities. The regulator's position is that all social networks and services operating in Russia must respect the country's legal framework, which includes storing data on Russian soil and actively policing extremist content.

This announcement follows user reports of degraded Telegram performance within Russia on February 9th. Industry sources confirmed to Russian media that Roskomnadzor had initiated a technical 'throttling' of the service. This action continues a pattern; since August 2025, the regulator has already blocked voice calls on both Telegram and WhatsApp, citing similar security justifications.

The escalating conflict places millions of Russian users in a familiar position, navigating an increasingly fragmented digital space where access to global platforms is often uncertain. Roskomnadzor maintains its rules are clear and apply equally to all companies, but the practical outcome is another potential disruption to a major communication tool.

Source: Meduza