Russia Has Blocked The Messaging App Telegram And People Are Not Happy About It
In the process, Russia’s telecommunications watchdog managed to ban a number of online games, mobile services, and credit card terminals.
On Friday, Moscow's Tagansky district court approved a request to block messaging app Telegram after the company refused to hand over encryption keys.
The app has been accused by the Russian Federal Security Service of aiding the work of terrorists with its encrypted messages. The app's creators say that the way it was created means they are unable to provide access to customers' encryption keys, and thus their private messages.
Yuri Kadobnov / AFP / Getty Images
Of course, some people responded to the ban with memes.
Also on Monday, a number of people held a protest outside the Federal Security Service's headquarters, throwing paper airplanes — Telegram's logo — at the building.
On a post on his VK page, Durov said:
This morning the Russian authorities blocked Telegram, therefore the service could be unstable with some telecom operators. The consequences of blocking are:
1. The quality of life for 15 million Russians will worsen as Telegram without VPN could be inaccessible at times.
2. The terrorist threat in Russia will remain at the same level as extremists will continue using all sorts of encrypted communication channels — in other messengers or via VPN.
3. The national security of Russia will in fact decrease, as some of the personal data of Russians will be moved from the neutral service (to the Russians) to US-controlled WhatsApp / Facebook.
We consider the decision to block [Telegram] anticonstitutional and will continue defending the right to privacy of correspondence for Russians.