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Telegram and WhatsApp Access Restricted in 34 Russian Regions – Monitor

Thirty-four regions have reported being unable to send messages on the two apps in addition to making calls.

Sobchak Deletes Interview With Gay Singer After Roskomnadzor Flags ‘LGBT Propaganda’

The interview, which was released in early September, featured the openly gay Russian-born singer and blogger Sergei Grigoryev-Apollonov, known as Grey...

Roskomnadzor Says It’s Restricting WhatsApp, Telegram Calls

The state communications watchdog claimed that the restrictions are an anti-fraud measure to protect Russian citizens from scams and extortion.

Suspected Government Tests Disrupt WhatsApp and Telegram Calls in Russia

A telecoms industry source told Kommersant that the disruptions may be related to the “selective blocking” of calls on the two messaging apps.

Telegram Begins Legal Process of Opening Office in Russia

Until now, the developer of the Telegram messaging app had taken minimal steps to comply with Russian localization laws.

opinion Sarkis Darbinyan

Western Tech Companies Are Capitulating to Russian Censors. Here's How Russians Can Fight Back.

Both Google and Apple have been making VPNs inaccessible at Moscow's request. Thankfully, there are still ways Russians can use the internet freely.

Russia Blocks a Record 417K Websites in 2024

The number of permanently inaccessible websites in 2024 was twice that of the previous year and nearly five times higher than in 2022.

Cable Damage Slows Internet for Millions of Customers Across Russia

The disruption comes a day after a major internet outage throughout the country.

Steam Removes Banned Content in Russia, State Regulator Says

Roskomnadzor said the gaming platform removed 11 web pages and over 260 banned “materials” after it sent a request to the company.

Russia Bans Messaging Platform Discord

Russia’s telecoms watchdog accused the U.S.-based platform of failing to prevent “messaging for terrorist and extremist purposes.”

Russia May Soon Block Discord – Kommersant

Earlier this month, users in Russia reported widespread outages on Discord.

Russia’s Media Regulator Tells Internet Providers to Stop Speeding Up YouTube – Reports

Industry insiders previously said they did not believe the workarounds violated any rules since the Russian government did not issue official restrictions...

Russia Blocks Signal Messenger For ‘Violating’ Country’s Legislation

Signal is considered to be one of the most secure messaging apps and is used by many independent Russian journalists and opposition activists.

Russia Demands Google Restore 200 Pro-Kremlin YouTube Channels

State media regulator Roskomnadzor said it sent Google CEO Sundar Pichai a request to unblock the channels.

YouTube Blocks Anti-War Videos at Russia’s Request – Agentstvo

It also notified the human rights watchdog OVD-Info that one of its channels may be blocked after it recently received a complaint from Roskomnadzor.

Widespread Telegram, WhatsApp Outages Reported Across Russia

Some media outlets speculated that the disruptions were linked to protests in the republic of Sakha (Yakutia) over the killing of a local man.

WhatsApp Drops Channels Launch in Russia Over Ban Threat

Russia’s media watchdog Roskomnadzor had threatened to block WhatsApp if the new Channels feature began distributing “banned information.”

Russia Blocked 5K Websites Per Week in 2022, NGO Says

Russia has blocked an average of 4,900 websites per week so far in 2022, according to an internet freedom NGO’s tally published by the Kommersant...

Russian Media Watchdog Denies Censoring 'War,' 'Peace' Lyrics in TV Performances

Russia's state media watchdog has denied ordering state television to censor war-related words after several entertainment channels censored the lyrics...

New Novaya Gazeta Site Blocked in Russia

The Russian prosecutor's office accused it — without providing details — of "discrediting" the Russian Armed Forces.

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