Telegram messaging app almost fully blocked in Russia

The level of "anomalies" affecting access to Telegram, making the messaging app unusable, reached 95% in Russia on the morning of Friday 10 April.

Source: Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI), a global community measuring internet censorship around the world, as reported by Russian media outlet Agentstvo

Details: According to Agentstvo, the recorded level of "anomalies" is the highest since the new round of restrictions on the messaging app's operation in Russia began on 20 March.

"These figures may mean that Pavel Durov's messaging app is being blocked more heavily than WhatsApp and Signal," Agentstvo said.

By comparison, the share of anomalies for the officially blocked Signal and the effectively blocked WhatsApp stood at 89% on Friday morning.

The intensification of the Telegram block occurred on Friday – previous waves of blocking also took place at the end of the week. On 9 April, the share of anomalies stood at 79%, the level typical of recent days.

Problems are also likely being experienced by those using VPN services: the Netherlands topped the list by number of complaints.

Background:

• Billionaire and Telegram founder Pavel Durov stated that Russia's attempt to block virtual private networks caused problems with the internal payment system, adding that tens of millions of Russians are resisting digital control.
• In February, it was reported that Durov's actions are being investigated in Russia as part of a criminal case under a statute on facilitating terrorist activities.

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