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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Guardian staff and agencies

Russia restricts WhatsApp and Telegram, alleging apps used for fraud and terrorism

A hand holds a smartphone against a blurry backdrop of the Kremlin
Moscow accuses WhatsApp and Telegram of failing to share information in fraud and terrorism cases. Photograph: Pavel Bednyakov/AP

Russia has announced restrictions on the messaging apps WhatsApp and Telegram, accusing the foreign-owned platforms of failing to share information with law enforcement in fraud and terrorism cases.

Moscow has clashed with foreign tech platforms for several years over content and data storage in a simmering dispute that intensified after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Critics say Russia is trying to expand its control over the country’s internet space.

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