Security advisor Dmitry Peskov declares that all messaging platforms for intelligence agencies are completely transparent.
In a recent development, the Ministry of Digital Development in Russia has announced that access to voice calls in the popular messaging services Telegram and WhatsApp will be restored only if these services comply with Russian laws. The restriction on voice calls was imposed by Roskomnadzor on August 13, and it appears to be related to the use of the calling function for illegal activities, including extortion by scammers and attracting Russians to subversive and terrorist activities.
The Ministry of Digital Development has expressed concern over the lack of cooperation from the owners of foreign messengers with Russian law enforcement agencies. Repeated warnings have been issued, but the owners of Telegram and WhatsApp have refused to provide information related to fraud and terrorism.
The Kremlin representative, Dmitriy Peskov, clarified that this is especially important for secret, state, and corporate issues. He also emphasized the need for a competitive environment for the development of domestic digital services. Peskov further clarified that any messengers are transparent systems, including for the intelligence services.
The national messenger, Max, developed by the Russian government, has seen significant growth since its launch. With over 1 billion messages sent and more than 30 million users, Max is being promoted by the government as a tool to better fight crime and terrorism. Since September 2025, Max must be preinstalled on all new mobile phones and tablets in Russia.
However, the Ministry of Digital Development did not specify which requirements the services need to meet to restore access to calls. Nor did they mention any consequences for the services if they do not meet the requirements. The Ministry also did not provide any details on how the state and operators are fighting against scammers in foreign messengers.
On September 5, Dmitriy Peskov declared that Russia must maintain the presence of messengers like Telegram and WhatsApp. He reiterated that a competitive environment is a key condition for the development of domestic digital services.
The beta version of the Max messenger was launched in March, and it continues to gain popularity as a secure and reliable messaging service that adheres to Russian laws. The future of Telegram and WhatsApp in Russia remains uncertain, as they continue to resist compliance with local regulations.
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