Russian lawmakers propose indefinite ban on blocking Telegram and WhatsApp

A bill proposing an indefinite moratorium on the blocking of social networks and messaging services — including Telegram and WhatsApp (owned by Meta) — is expected to be submitted to the State Duma on January 30, according to an RTVI correspondent.

The initiative was authored by 17 lawmakers from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, led by Sergei Obukhov, Nikolai Kolomeitsev, and Nina Ostanina.

The draft law proposes amendments to the laws “On Information, Information Technologies, and the Protection of Information” and “On Communications.” The document is intended to “help reduce public frustration caused by restrictions on citizens’ digital rights, the slowing of communication in messaging apps, and periodic digital lockdowns,” Obukhov told RTVI.

He stressed that citizens “rightfully” view the blocking of social networks and services as a violation of their constitutional rights. At the same time, oversight bodies often fail to explain the reasons for such restrictions, Obukhov noted. As an example, he cited the slowing of Telegram by internet providers, adding that there have still been no official decisions or statements from relevant authorities on the matter.

A similar situation has developed with WhatsApp, according to the explanatory note attached to the bill, which RTVI has obtained. Lawmakers recalled that, under the position of the Prosecutor General’s Office, the extremist organisation is the messenger’s owner — the Meta platform — and not the service itself. Despite this, WhatsApp has also experienced slowdowns and limitations on its usual functions.

“Bans and restrictions on citizens’ digital rights are an unpopular decision for most of the country’s population and lead directly to a deterioration in their quality of life,” the explanatory note states.

In this regard, the bill’s authors propose “legislatively enshrining a moratorium on blocking social networks for a broad range of users and bringing the actions of various technical operators into the sphere of legal regulation,” Obukhov said.

He clarified that the document would preserve the ability of regulatory authorities to block specific content on social networks in light of “the actions of unfriendly countries and various scammers,” but not the platforms and messengers themselves.

“Thus, our bill seeks to ensure a balance between information security and the observance of citizens’ rights enshrined in Article 29 of the Constitution,” Obukhov said.

In August 2025, Russia’s communications watchdog Roskomnadzor began blocking calls via Telegram and WhatsApp, saying these were the main voice services used for fraud and extortion, as well as for recruiting Russians into acts of sabotage and terrorism.

In November, Roskomnadzor launched a gradual blocking of WhatsApp, explaining that the messenger continued to violate Russian law. The agency warned that the service would be fully blocked if it did not change its stance. WhatsApp’s owners later said they were “determined to fight” for Russian users.

Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy Andrei Svintsov has not ruled out that Roskomnadzor could decide to fully block WhatsApp by the end of 2026.

By Tamilla Hasanova