00:00Russia is tightening its grip on the country's online communications, as the state telecom regulator has now restricted voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, saying the companies refuse to share data in fraud, sabotage, and terrorism cases.
00:18The restrictions apply only to calls, not text messaging.
00:22Officials say they could lift the ban if the companies follow Russian laws, open local offices, and cooperate with authorities.
00:30WhatsApp says it's committed to secure encrypted communications and is blocking millions of scam accounts.
00:36Telegram says it uses AI to remove harmful content.
00:40The move comes alongside a new law starting in September, making it illegal to even search for banned extremist material online, with fines for users, including those using VPNs.
00:53Officials stress the main focus is on regulating providers, not mass punishment of citizens.
00:58It also fits into a wider push for a sovereign Internet.
01:02Just weeks ago, Moscow launched Max, a government-backed super app modeled partly on China's WeChat, where state services and private businesses can migrate to Russian-owned platforms.
01:15President Vladimir Putin calls that shift extremely important for digital sovereignty.
01:19Analysts say these moves aim to pull Russians away from foreign platforms and into domestic ecosystems, where authorities have greater oversight and more control over what information people see.
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