Roskomnadzor, Russia's telecommunications authority, has recently restricted access to Viber, a widely used encrypted messaging application. This move is part of Russia's ongoing efforts to control information dissemination and curb access to certain communications platforms.

Reason for Blockage

Russia's internet regulator has cited Viber's non-compliance with national legislation for the block. The ban aims to prevent the app's utilization in terrorist, extremist activities, and other illegal acts, such as drug sales.

App Popularity

Viber boasts significant user engagement, with over 1 billion downloads on the Google Play Store for Android devices and more than 744,000 ratings on the Apple App Store for iOS.

Legal Challenges

The restrictions follow a June 2023 court order where Viber was fined 1 million rubles for not removing content Russia declared illegal, particularly concerning the conflict in Ukraine.

Broader Context

Earlier in 2023, Russia banned government officials and state agencies from using foreign messaging apps, impacting platforms like Discord, Microsoft Teams, Telegram, and WeChat. Additionally, in August, Roskomnadzor blocked the Signal messaging app, citing violations of anti-terrorism laws.

VPN Restrictions

The Russian government has also taken steps against virtual private networks (VPNs). Following three waves of bans between 2020 and 2021, numerous VPN applications, such as NordVPN and Proton VPN, were removed from the Russian App Store in August 2024 upon Roskomnadzor's directive to curb access to unauthorized content.

This latest restriction reflects Russia’s steadfast approach to controlling digital communication and access within its borders, aiming to preempt security threats and regulate the content available to its citizens. Viber's spokesperson had not commented on this development as of the latest updates.

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