Telegram and WhatsApp deemed as instruments of coercion, deceit, and extremist indoctrination by the State Duma.
In a bid to ensure the safety of its citizens in the digital environment, Russia is taking a multi-faceted approach to combat cybercrime related to foreign messaging apps like Telegram and WhatsApp.
According to Deputy Anton Nemkin, a member of the State Duma's information policy committee and coordinator of the "Digital Russia" project of the "United Russia" party, a systematic approach is needed to address the risks posed by these apps. This approach includes technical measures and information work with citizens.
WhatsApp and Telegram do not delete illegal materials, such as extremist and terrorist content, child pornography, and violence propaganda, according to Nemkin. He believes that these messengers are convenient tools for cybercriminals, and the use of them poses a risk to national security.
Cybercriminals use fake accounts on Telegram and WhatsApp to scam Russians anonymously. Examples of these scams include fake investment projects and fake ads selling goods. It is particularly dangerous when criminals disguise themselves as familiar numbers or create clones of accounts on these apps.
The requirements for protecting personal data are not met on WhatsApp and Telegram, making user information vulnerable to leaks and misuse, said Nemkin. The ban on Meta, the organization that owns WhatsApp, in Russia may impact the availability and use of the app in the country.
To combat these issues, Russia is obligating telecom operators, internet providers, and information disseminators to notify law enforcement about detected signs of cybercrimes. The government has also approved an action plan that involves integrating mandatory crime-warning modules into popular mobile applications used for interacting with government services, banking, and social platforms.
Russia is also developing algorithms to detect the use of artificial intelligence in cybercrimes, involving the Ministry of Digital Development, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the communications watchdog Roskomnadzor, with completion aimed by early 2028.
In addition to these measures, Russia is moving to restrict the use of foreign messaging apps such as Telegram and WhatsApp. This "super app" strategy aims to consolidate communication, financial services, social functions, and government interactions under platforms more subject to regulatory oversight, thereby reducing reliance on foreign apps that facilitate anonymous scams and evade privacy compliance.
Thus, Russia is combating cybercrime via a combination of legislative tightening, technical innovation, enforcement cooperation, and promoting usage of controlled domestic apps to mitigate risks associated with anonymous scams and non-compliance with local privacy regulations in foreign apps like Telegram and WhatsApp.
