WhatsApp and Telegram face a bleak future in Russia

The situation of messaging platforms in Russia is becoming critical, according to Mikhail Oseevsky, head of the state telecommunications corporation Rostelecom. In recent statements, Oseevsky stated that WhatsApp "is dead" and that Telegram "is dying", in a context marked by increasing government control and internet restrictions. The news comes at a time when authorities announce a ban on protests in several cities across the country, adding pressure to the already tense communications situation in Russia.

Oseevsky and his diagnosis on messaging platforms

During the congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), Oseevsky expressed that WhatsApp traffic in Russia is almost non-existent, to the point of considering it "practically zero." On the other hand, he added that Telegram, which at one point reached 100 million users in the country, is going through a critical phase, indicating that "it is dying." This diagnosis is a reflection of the efforts of the government for restricting access to these platforms in the midst of a context of political and social tension that has been intensifying for some time.

The growth of MAX, the state alternative

In contrast to the adverse situation of WhatsApp and Telegram, Oseevsky announced that the national service MAX, whose model is similar to that of WeChat in China, is in full growth. With a base of 107 million registered users, MAX is proposed as the government's alternative, just when blockages on other messaging applications intensify. This transition to MAX has generated concern among many users, who see in this application an attempt not only at communication control, but also at mass surveillance and political censorship.

Imminent lockdowns and access restrictions

Russian media They have advanced the possibility that Telegram will be permanently blocked as of April 1. This announcement comes in a context where access to the platform has already become difficult, with users needing to resort to VPN services to bypass obstacles imposed by authorities. The official justifications for these blocks revolve around the supposed need to minimize recruitment for criminal activities through these apps, a claim that has been criticized by various sectors.

Protests and the defense of freedom of expression

In the midst of this tense situation, Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, has denounced the action of the Russian government as an attempt to censor the freedom of expression. According to Durov, the restrictions imposed on the platform are motivated by the desire to direct users towards the state application MAX, which he describes as a surveillance tool. In this context, two Russian students were sentenced to 15 days of administrative arrest for demonstrating against internet blockages, which highlights the repressive climate that exists in the country.

He Home Office It has also issued warnings about possible administrative and criminal liabilities for those who participate in unauthorized demonstrations, such as the one planned for March 29, which seeks to protest against internet blockades and messaging services. This environment of fear and repression resembles other episodes in Russia's recent history, where authorities have demonstrated a tendency to silence dissenting voices.

Let us remember that in 2018, the Russian government has already tried block Telegram, but the mission failed after two years, leading to a change in strategy. Now, with new measures and a climate of greater control, the future of freedom of expression and digital communication in Russia appears uncertain, as the country moves towards a communication model very different from that of the rest of the world.