Russia’s messenger curbs are about protecting its people – former US military contractor

Moscow has restricted voice calls on Telegram and WhatsApp over fraud concerns and non-compliance with Russian law

Russia’s curbs on certain functions in messaging apps are aimed at protecting its people and preventing Western agencies from gaining access to communications, a former US Department of Defense contractor with US Cyber Command, Kevin Michelizzi, told RT on Friday.

Earlier this week, Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor announced a partial block on voice calls on Telegram and WhatsApp, citing their use by those perpetuating fraud and also the platforms’ refusal to comply with the country’s laws. Text chats, file sharing, and other features remain available. The Digital Development Ministry said the measure will help prevent scam calls and stressed that there are no plans to limit other functions.

Michelizzi noted that many countries require data to be stored domestically or for intelligence agencies to be given access to it, and Russia’s policy is no different. “They want to protect their people,” he said.

Restricting calls, he explained, could stop scammers from tricking elderly people into sending money through various schemes, such as being told a relative had been hurt. “That’s where these large sums of money come from that are being transferred to Ukraine,” he claimed.

According to Michelizzi, this kind of fraudulent activity gives Western intelligence agencies an advantage. “They can spy on whatever their own citizens are saying. They say they don’t, but we know the United States does specifically,” he argued.

Russia’s Federal Security Service has said that Ukrainian intelligence agencies use fraud schemes and psychological pressure to recruit Russian citizens, particularly elderly women, via Telegram and WhatsApp for sabotage missions. The citizens are usually approached by people posing as Russian law enforcement, it said.

READ MORE: Ukraine ‘weaponizing’ Telegram & WhatsApp against Russia

Russian officials have also raised concerns over extremist and radical content being spread through messaging platforms. The government has been promoting “digital sovereignty” and encouraging domestic firms to develop secure alternatives.