On 13 August 2025, Russia officially announced new restrictions on voice and video calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, two of the most widely used messaging apps in the world(Reuters, The Guardian, AP News).
According to Russian regulator Roskomnadzor – the Federal Service for the Supervision of Communications and Media – the platforms have allegedly failed to cooperate with the authorities in cases of fraud, extortion and terrorism.
The measure introduces a partial block: calls on WhatsApp are now impossible and on Telegram are disrupted, while chats and other functions remain available. The authorities stated that access will only be restored if the platforms share user data with Russian institutions.

‘Max’ the national app at the heart of digital sovereignty

In parallel, Moscow is promoting the messaging app Max, already adopted in regions such as North Ossetia for all official communications. The initiative is part of the ‘digital sovereignty’ strategy, with which the Kremlin aims to reduce dependence on foreign platforms.
However, the Max app has come under fire for lacking essential security features, such astwo-factor authentication, and for its high risk of surveillance by theFSB. Unlike apps such as WhatsApp and Signal, as well as Telegram for Secret Chats and calls, Max does not adopt end-to-end encryption but a server-based system, which allows the provider – and thus the state authorities – direct access to the contents of communications.

End-to-end encryption as a guarantee of freedom

End-to-end encryption (E2EE) is a security mechanism that ensures that content can only be decrypted on the devices of the interlocutors, excluding any access by service providers, governments or malicious actors. In the WhatsApp platform, this form of protection is implemented by default for both messaging and voice and video communication, while in Telegram it is active for Secret Chat and for audio and video calls.

In contrast, server-based encryption only encrypts messages during transit but decrypts them on servers, which store the keys. In these scenarios, the provider can hand them over to governments or third parties, as is the case with WeChat and Max itself, making the data more vulnerable to surveillance and abuse.

Legal precedent: Podchasov v. Russia

A key step in understanding the importance of end-to-end encryption in today’s society is the Podchasov v. Russia case, decided by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on 13 February 2023. The appeal had been filed in 2018 by a Russian citizen challenging Telegram ‘s obligation to hand over encryption keys to the FSB in order to access users’ communications. A technically impossible request for Secret Chats, which are based on end-to-end encryption. In its 2023 judgment, the Court ruled that such an imposition violated the right to privacy and freedom of expression, reaffirming that end-to-end encry ption is an indispensable protection in a democratic society.

Limited encryption, reduced freedom

The restriction of calls on WhatsApp and Telegram and the promotion of a domestic app like Max represent a new instance of digital repression. In the name of so-called ‘digital sovereignty’, Russia strengthens its instruments of control over private communications on the Chinese model, replicating the scheme already seen with WeChat, where encryption is not end-to-end and the state can easily access users’ data. A strategy that reduces the space of freedom and pushes citizens towards less secure platforms that are more exposed to government surveillance.
These developments should not be underestimated in Europe either, where the Chat Control debate raises similar fears: the risk that, in the name of security, end-to-end encryption is compromised, paving the way for generalised surveillance that undermines the foundations of democratic society(ENISA).