Russia Set to Throttle Telegram, Push Homegrown 'Super App'
Russian regulator Roskomnadzor moves to restrict Telegram access starting Tuesday while promoting state-backed alternative.
Russia is about to make Telegram's life a lot harder. Starting Tuesday, the country's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor plans to limit access to the popular messaging platform, according to Russian news outlet RBC.
The timing isn't coincidental. Moscow is simultaneously pushing Max, a government-promoted 'super app' designed to be Russia's answer to everything from messaging to services.
This isn't Russia's first rodeo with Telegram. The Kremlin previously attempted to ban the app back in 2018, a move that spectacularly failed as users deployed VPNs en masse. The government eventually backed off in 2020.
Whether this latest restriction attempt fares any better remains to be seen. Russian users have proven remarkably stubborn about their messaging preferences.