WhatsApp speeds in Russia drop by 70–80% - media reports

Tengrinews.kz — WhatsApp slowdowns are gaining momentum in Russia: starting today, the messenger’s operating speed has dropped by 70–80 percent. Mobile operators have nothing to do with it, a source in the telecom market told RBC.

According to Downdetector, most complaints concern malfunctioning notifications, the inability to send messages, and glitches in the mobile app and website. Data from Sboy.rf shows 1,600 complaints were filed over the past 24 hours, most of them from Moscow.

In mid-August, Roskomnadzor announced restrictions on WhatsApp calls, calling the messenger (along with Telegram) a key platform for “extorting money and involving Russian citizens in sabotage and terrorist activities.”

In October, the agency said it had begun partially restricting WhatsApp due to the need to “counter criminals.” Roskomnadzor reported this on October 22, the day after users started complaining about service disruptions.

According to Roskomnadzor Deputy Head Oleg Terliakov (as of October 22), blocking voice calls in WhatsApp and Telegram reduced fraudulent calls by 40 percent over the course of a month.

In late November, Roskomnadzor emphasized that the platform continues to violate Russian law, and therefore the agency will keep introducing restrictive measures. If the service ignores the Russian authorities’ claims, it will be “fully blocked,” the agency warned.