Russian authorities have blocked the popular messaging app Telegram in Russia. The blocking of Telegram has sparked strong criticism from pro-Kremlin war bloggers. Pro-Kremlin gamer and activist Grigory Korolyov called the Telegram ban 'criminal'. Telegram is widely used by Russian troops in Ukraine as a communication tool, raising concerns about how the military will adapt to the restriction.
The Russian government is steering users towards its state-backed messaging app MAX, which is integrated with government services and can serve as a digital ID. MAX is owned by VK, which is in turn owned by the state gas company Gazprom. All new Android phones sold in Russia must have MAX pre-installed. Critics say MAX is a state surveillance tool, arguing that its integration with government systems allows for extensive monitoring of users.
A sad spectacle of a state afraid of its own people.
Authorities in nearly a dozen Russian regions have used various excuses to prevent demonstrations against internet censorship and the blocking of Telegram. Russia has launched an investigation into Telegram founder Pavel Durov for alleged 'terrorism activity'. The Kremlin acknowledges that restrictions on messaging services like WhatsApp and Telegram may cause inconvenience for citizens but defends the measures as necessary for security and control.
Unconfirmed media reports predict a complete blocking of Telegram in the coming weeks. The exact timeline for this complete blocking, and whether there will be exceptions for military or government use, is unknown. How effective VPNs and other circumvention tools are in bypassing the Telegram block, and for how long they will remain functional, is also uncertain. To what extent public discontent over the Telegram block is translating into organized protest or political pressure on the Kremlin remains unclear. How secure the state-backed app MAX is against hacking or data breaches, given its integration with sensitive government services, is another key unknown.