Russian authorities reportedly weigh blocking messaging app calls

Russia’s Digital Development Ministry and the federal censorship agency, Roskomnadzor, are considering a proposal to block calls made through messaging apps, citing efforts to combat fraud, Kommersant reported on December 24.

According to the Kommersant’s sources, officials are exploring two options: a complete ban on voice calls via such apps or restrictions on calls originating from abroad.

The mobile operator MegaFon reports that fraudulent calls make up “about 40 percent” of those made through messaging apps, with “roughly 70 percent” of them allegedly originating from foreign numbers. Telecom operators have said they lack the tools to block these calls on their own and would need assistance from Roskomnadzor as well as “active cooperation from messaging app developers.”

In October, Roskomnadzor’s head, Andrey Lipov, stated that the agency has the technological capability to block calls on messaging platforms and could do so if the apps were found to be in violation of Russian law, Kommersant noted.

The Digital Development Ministry told Kommersant it is not currently “drafting regulations to restrict voice traffic on messaging apps” and remains “open to proposals from industry stakeholders.”