Russian Federation - September 2025

The Russian communications agency Roscomnadzor began blocking all calls made on WhatsApp and Telegram, the country’s two most popular messaging apps, claiming both companies fail to comply with a law requiring that Russian users’ data be kept in the country. Simultaneously, the government has launched an ‘everything app’ modeled after China’s WeChat, Max, as a replacement. Max is not encrypted or anonymous, requires a Belarusian or Russian phone number, and collects extensive user data. Some security experts and ordinary Russians believe it is intended as a tool for mass surveillance. All phones sold in the country from 1 September must by law have the app installed. The block has triggered small protests around the country, media reports of which are unusual in wartime Russia. Both WhatsApp and Telegram are used by a large majority of Russians to manage their everyday affairs. 

President Vladimir Putin signed into law Russia’s withdrawal from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment on 29 September. Russian officials said the move was a response to the Council of Europe’s ‘blocking’ Russian members from joining the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture. As a result, Russia will no longer permit international inspectors access to its detention centers, something that anti-torture activists say will lead to a degradation of prison conditions. Members of the Committee conducted thirty visits to Russian prisons and detention centers since Russia ratified the treaty in 1998, although as disclosure requires the approval of the host government, only four were publicly published. 

Sources: European External Action Service, Meduza